Type Casting

int() function

This function is used to convert any floating point number or numeric value represented as string into an integer value.

Syntax for using int function:

int(x)

We have passed our number 'x' as a parameter inside the int function. It will convert it into an integer and will return the result.

Example:

>>> a = 2.4
>>> a = int(a)
>>> a
output: 2
>>> str = '2'
>>> str = int(str)
>>> str
output: 2

float() function

This function is used to convert any integer or numeric value represented as string into a floating point number.

Syntax for using float function:

float(x)

We have passed a value 'x' as a parameter inside the float function. It will convert it into a floating point number and will return the result.

Example:

>>> a = 3
>>> a = float(a)
>>> a
output: 3.0
>>> str = '12.47'
>>> str = float(str)
>>> str
output: 12.47

complex() function

This is used to convert any integer, float or numeric string into complex number.

Syntax for using float function:

complex(x)
or
complex(x, y)

Passing just one parameter results in complex number having imaginary part value as 0. In case you pass a parameter value appended with 'j', then the real part will become zero. You can also pass a string as a parameter.

Example:

>>> a = 3
>>> a = complex(a)
>>> a
output: 3+0j
>>> b = '1+2j'
>>> b = complex(b)
>>> b
output: 1+2j

In case of passing two parameters inside complex function, the first parameter becomes real part and second parameter becomes imaginary part of the complex number.

Example:

>>> a = 3
>>> b = 4
>>> c = complex(a,b)
>>> c
output: 3+4j

str() function

This function is used to convert any value passed inside it as a string.

Syntax for using str function:

str(x)

We have passed a value 'x' as a parameter inside the str function. It will convert it into a string and will return the result.

Example:

>>> a = 1
>>> a = str(a)
>>> a
output: '3'
>>> list = [1,2,3]
>>> str = str(list)
>>> str
output: '[1,2,3]'

There are other functions like list(), tuple() and dict() to convert strings, lists, tuples and dictionary into desired data-types. We will discuss them later. If you are curious about them then feel free to try them.