What is the difference between Convert.toString and .toString()

Question

What is the difference between Convert.toString and .toString()

Answer 1

Just to give an understanding of what the above question means seethe below code.
int i =0;
MessageBox.Show(i.ToString());
MessageBox.Show(Convert.ToString(i));
We can convert the integer “i” using “i.ToString()” or “Convert.ToString” so what’s the difference.
The basic difference between them is “Convert” function handles NULLS while “i.ToString()”
does not it will throw a NULL reference exception error. So as good coding practice using
“convert” is always safe.

Answer 2

Hi

There is no difference between i.ToString() and Convert.ToString(i).

This is the body of the Convert method:

public static string ToString(int value)
{
    return value.ToString();
}

Furthermore, the integer variable cannot be null since its a value type.

Answer 3

Kuju wrote:

Hi There is no difference between i.ToString() and Convert.ToString(i). This is the body of the Convert method: public static string ToString(int value) {     return value.ToString(); } Furthermore, the integer variable cannot be null since its a value type.

Kuju is absolutely correct.But what will happen if tostring is to be used with an custom object

Answer 4

Once again using the trusty reflector,  the body of the Convert.ToString(object value)looks like this:

public static string ToString(object value, IFormatProvider provider)
{
    IConvertible convertible = value as IConvertible
    if(convertible != null)
    {
       return convertible.ToString(provider)
    }
    if(value != null)
    {
       return value.ToString();
    }
    return string.Empty
}

Therefore, when you try Convert.ToString() on a custum object, you are guaranteed not to get an ObjectReferenceNullException. On the other hand you might want to get an exception if you don't expect your object to be null.

Answer 5

The difference between Convert.ToString and .ToString() as follows

 

Convert.ToString wont allow null values. Cannot convert null to String

 

Whereas   .ToString accepts null values

 

Thanks,

Srinivasan.K

Sybrant Technologies Pvt. Ltd.,

 

 

Answer 6

Srini,

i think its the other way round

Answer 7

Offcourse there is a difference:

string s;
object o = null;
s = o.ToString();
//returns a null reference exception for s.

string s;
object o = null;
s = Convert.ToString(o);
//returns an empty string for s and does not throw an exception.

Answer 8

Just to give an understanding of what the above question means seethe below code.
int i =0;
MessageBox.Show(i.ToString());
MessageBox.Show(Convert.ToString(i));
We can convert the integer “i” using “i.ToString()” or “Convert.ToString” so what’s the difference.
The basic difference between them is “Convert” function handles NULLS while “i.ToString()”
does not it will throw a NULL reference exception error. So as good coding practice using
“convert” is always safe.

Muhammed Adnan is absolutely correct, so we use Convert.ToString() much more than ToString()...