What is the difference between `(type)value` and `type(value)` in C ?

Unveiling the Subtleties of (type)value vs. type(value) in C

In the realm of C programming, the difference between (type)value and type(value) often perplexes developers. Let's delve into this topic to shed light on their nuances.

According to the C standard (§5.2.3), there is no fundamental distinction between type(value) and (type)value when dealing with a single expression. Both expressions result in a value of the specified type given the expression list.

The discrepancy arises when handling a comma-separated list of values. In this case, type(value) constructs a temporary variable of the specified type and returns its value, while (type)value simply converts the values to the target type.

It's worth noting that certain type names may not compile when using type(value). For instance, while char (string) causes a compilation error, char_ptr(string) works if char_ptr is defined as a typedef for char .

In summary, while (type)value and type(value) exhibit no difference when dealing with single expressions, they diverge when working with multiple values. The latter creates a temporary variable to facilitate the conversion.

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