Int32.Parse() VS Convert.ToInt32()?

Question

intID1 = Int32.Parse(myValue.ToString());
intID2 = Convert.ToInt32(myValue);

Which one is better and why?

possible duplicate of [.Net Parse versus Convert](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/18465/net-parse-versus-convert) — JasonMArcher, Oct 20 '14 at 16:44

score 37 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 15 '10 at 00:59

37

They are exactly the same, except that Convert.ToInt32(null) returns 0.

Convert.ToInt32 is defined as follows:

    public static int ToInt32(String value) {
        if (value == null) 
            return 0;
        return Int32.Parse(value, CultureInfo.CurrentCulture);
    }

answered Sep 15 '10 at 00:59

SLaks

868,454
176
1,908
1,964

Where do you find ToInt32() function source code? I googled MSDN and can't find the details like you input. :-) – Nano HE Sep 15 '10 at 01:07
4

@Nano: http://referencesource.microsoft.com/ or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shared_Source_Common_Language_Infrastructure – SLaks Sep 15 '10 at 01:08

score 6 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 15 '15 at 07:54

6

Well, Reflector says...

public static int ToInt32(string value)
{
    if (value == null)
    {
        return 0;
    }
    return int.Parse(value, CultureInfo.CurrentCulture);
}

public static int Parse(string s)
{
    return Number.ParseInt32(s, NumberStyles.Integer, NumberFormatInfo.CurrentInfo);
}

So they're basically the same except that Convert.ToInt32() does an added null check.

edited Jul 15 '15 at 07:54

Konrad Viltersten

36,151
76
250
438

answered Sep 15 '10 at 01:03

Adam P

4,603
6
31
40

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 06 '18 at 08:12

It depends on what you mean by "better" because "better" is subjective.

For instance - code readability. Some people prefer to see "Convert" in their code; others prefer to see "Parse".

In terms of speed, they're also both roughly equal according to these benchmarks.

Or do you always wants a value returned? As others have mentioned, ConvertTo returns a 0 (zero) for null values whereas you don't get that option with Parse.

Int32.Parse() VS Convert.ToInt32()?

3 Answers3

Linked

Related