Conversion, strconv. Things in Go have types. And when required, we can convert between types with built-in casts or more complex custom methods.
In most languages, casting involves a series of complex considerations. It often causes errors. Go here is no exception. Some casts are incompatible.
Cast float, int. This program casts a float constant to an int. We call the int cast like a method. We can assign its result to an int variable.
Here We have a float of value 1.2. When cast to an int, we are left with 1—the numbers after the decimal place are dropped.
package main
import "fmt"
func main() {
size := 1.2
fmt.Println(size)
// Convert to an int with a cast.
i := int(size)
fmt.Println(i)
}1.2
1
Convert string, ints. We cannot just cast ints to strings (or strings to ints). We must use methods in the strconv module. We can use ParseInt, FormatInt, or the convenient Itoa and Atoi.
Tip For simple cases (like when numbers are base 10, as they usually are) the Itoa and Atoi methods are typically clearer.
package main
import (
"fmt""strconv"
)
func main() {
value := 120
// Use Itoa to convert int to string.
result := strconv.Itoa(value)
fmt.Println(result)
if result == "120" {
fmt.Println(true)
}
// Use Atoi to convert string to int.
original, _ := strconv.Atoi(result)
if original == 120 {
fmt.Println(true)
}
}120
true
true
Slice to string. Here we convert a slice of strings into a single string. We use the strings.Join method. A comma character is inserted between all strings in the output.
package main
import (
"fmt""strings"
)
func main() {
// Slice of 3 strings.
values := []string{"fish", "chicken", "lettuce"}
// Convert slice into a string.
result := strings.Join(values, ",");
fmt.Println(result)
}fish,chicken,lettuce
String, rune slice. Characters in a string are called runes—these are like ints. We can convert a string into a slice of runes. We also convert a rune slice into a string.
Tip The runes here can be manipulated like any other element in a slice. This allows us to modify strings in many ways.
package main
import "fmt"
func main() {
// An example string.
value := "cat"
fmt.Println(value)
// Convert string into a slice of runes.
slice := []rune(value)
fmt.Println(slice)
// Convert rune slice into a string.
original := string(slice)
fmt.Println(original)
}cat
[99 97 116]
cat
Slice. More complex types (like map) can be converted also. We can use methods like append() to build up slices from the parts of a map.
Summary. Conversions are a recurring problem in programs. With types, we gain reliability. But often, to call methods, we must convert variables into compatible ones.
Dot Net Perls is a collection of tested code examples. Pages are continually updated to stay current, with code correctness a top priority.
Sam Allen is passionate about computer languages. In the past, his work has been recommended by Apple and Microsoft and he has studied computers at a selective university in the United States.
This page was last updated on Jul 8, 2023 (image).
