dynamic_cast vs static_cast

[xagiber]

What is really the difference between dynamic and static cast?

Code ex:

float number=43.54;
cout << static_cast<int>(number) << endl;
cout << dynamic_cast<int>(number) << endl;

The compiler (Borland Builder 5) flags an error when I use the dynamic cast (cannot cast from 'float' to 'int'), but if I use static cast - everything works perfectly.

Why this?

Thanks
Xagiber

[Monster]

That's because dynamic cast only works on pointers and references.

[Monster]

B.t.w. There are a lot of sites with information about this topic.
Try www.google.com and you can find it out yourself.
Here's an example: dynamic_cast

[MrWizard]

The static_cast operator is the most common. That is the one needed for your situation. Dynamic_cast has to deal with classes and inheritance. When a conversion in your program must access Runtime Type Information (RTTI) you should use the dynamic_cast operator. For examples go look on google. List of the cast operators:

static_cast
dynamic_cast
reinterpret_cast
const_cast

[Unregistered]

Dynamic cast perfoms only polyphormpic cast..

Dynamic cast is used for converting derived class pointer to base class pointer(Note : The base calss should contain atleasr one virtual function).