VB.NET TryCast and DirectCast Examples

TryCast. Casting syntax is language-specific.

In casting, we convert one type to a more, or less, derived type. Often we cast from Object, the ultimate base class.

Invalid casts. Some casts, like DirectCast, will throw an Exception if an invalid cast is attempted. But TryCast is safer, faster and more versatile: it simply returns Nothing.

Let us explore casts. This example creates a String Dim and then references it with an Object Dim. We then invoke TryCast to cast the Object back to a String.

Result: The last Dim, valueString, is again a String variable. So we can call Length on it.

String Length

Based on:

.NET 4.5

VB.NET program that uses TryCast

Module Module1

    Sub Main()
	' Get an Object that is a String.
	Dim value As String = "cat"
	Dim valueObject As Object = value

	' Use TryCast to get back to String.
	Dim valueString = TryCast(valueObject, String)
	Console.WriteLine(valueString.Length)
    End Sub

End Module

Output

3

An invalid cast. Next we consider what happens when we invoke TryCast on an incompatible type. Here we have a List, and try to cast it to a String. This does not work in reality.

And: TryCast behaves itself and simply returns Nothing. So valueString is a reference equal to Nothing—we use Is Nothing to test.

Nothing: This is similar to "null" or "nil" in other languages—the concepts are the same.

Nothing

VB.NET program that uses TryCast, Is Nothing

Module Module1

    Sub Main()
	' We are using a List of Strings.
	Dim value As List(Of String) = New List(Of String)
	Dim valueObject As Object = value

	' Use TryCast to String, but it fails.
	Dim valueString = TryCast(valueObject, String)
	If valueString Is Nothing Then
	    Console.WriteLine("TryCast to String failed")
	End If
    End Sub

End Module

Output

TryCast to String failed

DirectCast. This casting syntax handles failure cases in a more abrupt, final way: it throws an Exception. But if our cast is valid, it works the same way as TryCast.

Here: I correctly cast an Object to its more derived type String. We end up with a String, which is not Nothing.

VB.NET program that uses DirectCast

Module Module1

    Sub Main()
	Dim value As String = "fish"
	Dim valueObject As Object = value

	' Use DirectCast to a String.
	Dim valueString As String = DirectCast(valueObject, String)
	Console.WriteLine(valueString.Length)
    End Sub

End Module

Output

4

A compile-time error. This program will not even compile. The VB.NET compiler correctly tells us that a String cannot be cast to a StringBuilder. The types are separate.

Tip: Compile-time errors are annoying. But they save us the hassle of ever running programs that are obviously incorrect.

VB.NET program that causes compile-time error

Imports System.Text

Module Module1

    Sub Main()
	Dim value As String = "fish"
	Dim value2 As StringBuilder = DirectCast(value, StringBuilder)
    End Sub

End Module

Output

Value of type 'String' cannot be converted to 'System.Text.StringBuilder'.

InvalidCastException. Some casting errors are not caught by the compiler—they instead occur as runtime exceptions. Here I provoke an InvalidCastException.

Note: I cast an Object to an incompatible type. A String cannot be cast to a StringBuilder. This makes no sense.

StringBuilder

TryCast: Please use the TryCast method instead. Check for Nothing after invoking TryCast.

VB.NET program that causes InvalidCastException

Imports System.Text

Module Module1

    Sub Main()
	Dim value As String = "fish"
	' Pass String to the Handle method.
	Handle(value)
    End Sub

    Sub Handle(ByVal value As Object)
	' Cast our argument to a StringBuilder.
	Dim value2 As StringBuilder = DirectCast(value, StringBuilder)
	Console.WriteLine(value2.Length)
    End Sub

End Module

Output

Unhandled Exception: System.InvalidCastException:
    Unable to cast object of type 'System.String'
    to type 'System.Text.StringBuilder'.

Performance. My top casting performance tip is not to cast. In performance optimization, avoiding actions is usually the best strategy. Try to keep data in its more useful type.

Generics: Consider using generic types, like List or Dictionary, instead of ArrayList or Hashtable. Less casting is needed.

ListDictionaryArrayListHashtable

Another tip. If casting is necessary, avoid causing InvalidCastExceptions when possible. Use TryCast and check against Nothing afterwards. Exceptions are costly.

Tip: Using TryCast can promote "exception-neutral" code. This reduces the risks associated with exceptions.

Conversions. Casting does not handle converting units. For example, a conversion from miles to kilometers will require a special conversion function.

Convert Miles, Kilometers

A review. Major advances in programming languages have been driven by the desire to reduce casting. Generics (parameterized types) minimize casting. This increases performance.

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