Implementation of static_cast operator and it's limits

Question

Could please tell why compiler is not allowing this type cast...Error compiler showing is " Invalid static_cast from float * to int * "

#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
   float f=45.678;
   float *a;
   a=&f;
   int *d;
   cout<<static_cast<int *>(a);
}

possible duplicate of [C++: can't static\_cast from double\* to int\*](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2473628/c-cant-static-cast-from-double-to-int) — Scis, Mar 01 '15 at 13:04
Because casting was meant to allow conversion between different data types...@christian hackl — virusai, Mar 01 '15 at 13:45
@virusai: C++-style casts are explicitly designed to allow only *certain* types of casts. That's one of the great things about them; unlike C-style casts, they prevent accidental casts and silent bugs. What's wrong with the answer linked to by Scis? — Christian Hackl, Mar 01 '15 at 13:53
Please read this answer which gives a great summary of [what different casts do in C++](http://stackoverflow.com/a/332086/3848) — Motti, Mar 01 '15 at 13:53
possible duplicate of [When should static\_cast, dynamic\_cast, const\_cast and reinterpret\_cast be used?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/332030/when-should-static-cast-dynamic-cast-const-cast-and-reinterpret-cast-be-used) — Motti, Mar 01 '15 at 13:54
@virusai Casting was meant to allow *sane* conversion between different data types. Converting between`int*` and `float*` will cause problems, therefore not allowed. — L. F., Mar 24 '19 at 02:56

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 01 '15 at 15:07

static_cast is a cast that makes a compile-time check if the cast is legal.

Consider following examples of when cast is legal:

casting a smaller-size signed/unsigned integer type to bigger size signed/unsigned integer type with
upcasting pointer to derived class to pointer to base class.
and so on.

Casting float* to int* doesn't make sense from a standpoint of the compiler. If you want to make a such conversion, you should use reinterpret_cast.

Implementation of static_cast operator and it's limits

1 Answers1