When Are Conversion Operators Invoked in C ?

Conversion Operators in C : Understanding Invocation Scenarios

Introduction:

Conversion operators play a crucial role in C by facilitating the implicit or explicit conversion of one data type to another. This enables seamless utilization of classes or types that may not inherently share compatible types.

Invocation of Conversion Operators:

The compiler considers invoking a conversion operator when it encounters code that attempts to convert an expression's type to another. However, not all conversion operators are invoked in all scenarios.

Conversion during Argument Passing and Initialization:

When arguments are passed to a function or during copy initialization, the compiler checks if the argument's type can be converted to the parameter's type using any available conversion function. This is independent of whether the conversion results in a reference type.

Conversion to References:

The conditional operator and direct reference bindings allow conversion to reference types. In the conditional operator, conversion is possible if the expression being converted to a reference is an lvalue.

Conversion to Function Pointers:

User-defined conversion operators can convert to function pointers or references. This conversion is employed when a function call is made on the converted object.

Conversion to Non-Class Types:

User-defined conversion operators can also convert to fundamental types like booleans. Such conversions can be triggered where built-in operators expect the specified type.

Cautions and Ambiguities:

While user-defined conversion operators provide flexibility, they should be used cautiously. Ambiguities can arise when multiple conversions are applicable, leading to unpredictable behavior.

Conversion Function Templates:

Conversion function templates offer powerful but potentially risky capabilities. They allow a type to be converted to any pointer type. However, it's essential to exercise caution when utilizing them to avoid unintended conversions.

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