C# Convert Bool to Int

Convert bool values to int values with a ternary expression.

Convert bool, int. A bool can be converted to 0 or 1. In other languages, false is equivalent to 0 and true is equivalent to 1. This is not possible in the C# language.Convert

We convert bools to ints, first running through an example. We then test unsafe code in converting bools to ints. We benchmark to ensure our method is fast.Bool

An example. We cannot implicitly convert from bool to int. The C# compiler uses this rule to enforce program correctness. The same rule mandates you cannot test an int in an if-statement.

Note: When you try to convert a bool into an int with an implicit cast, you receive an error: "Cannot convert type bool to int."

Version 1: This version of the code uses a ternary expression to convert a bool into an int (1 or 0).

Ternary Operator

Version 2: Here we use the Convert.ToIn32 method to convert the bool to an int—no ternary is required.

Info: Opening up Convert.ToInt32 up in IL Disassembler, I found it performs the same logic as the ternary (it branches).

C# program that uses bools using System; class Program { static void Main() { // Version 1: convert bool to int. bool testBool = true; int testInt = testBool ? 1 : 0; Console.WriteLine("TEST BOOL: " + testBool); // True. Console.WriteLine("TEST INT: " + testInt); // 1 // Version 2: convert bool to int. bool testBool2 = false; int testInt2 = Convert.ToInt32(testBool2); Console.WriteLine("TEST BOOL 2: " + testBool2); // False. Console.WriteLine("TEST INT 2: " + testInt2); // 0 } } Output TEST BOOL: True TEST INT: 1 TEST BOOL 2: False TEST INT 2: 0

A benchmark. I benchmarked the two statements and found identical performance. The compiler efficiently inlines Convert.ToInt32(bool) to be the same as the ternary expression.

Version 1: Here we use the ternary expression to convert the bool to an int (either 0 or 1).

Version 2: This code uses the Convert.ToIn32 method to convert the bool to an int. Its results are identical.

Result: The performance of the two version is the same—use whichever version seems clearest.

C# program that times Convert.ToInt32 using System; using System.Diagnostics; class Program { const int _max = 100000000; static void Main() { var s1 = Stopwatch.StartNew(); // Version 1: use ternary. for (int i = 0; i < _max; i++) { bool testBool = true; int testInt = testBool ? 1 : 0; if (testInt != 1) { return; } } s1.Stop(); var s2 = Stopwatch.StartNew(); // Version 2: use Convert.ToInt32. for (int i = 0; i < _max; i++) { bool testBool = true; int testInt = Convert.ToInt32(testBool); if (testInt != 1) { return; } } s2.Stop(); Console.WriteLine(((double)(s1.Elapsed.TotalMilliseconds * 1000000) / _max).ToString("0.00 ns")); Console.WriteLine(((double)(s2.Elapsed.TotalMilliseconds * 1000000) / _max).ToString("0.00 ns")); } } Output 0.27 ns Use ternary 0.27 ns Use Convert.ToInt32

StructLayout. It is possible to use a special struct, with a StructLayout attribute, to convert a bool to an int. The int and the bool are stored in the same position in the struct.

So: When we have a true bool, our value is 1, and when we have a false bool, our value is 0.

Note: Thanks to Paul Pacheco for the tip on using StructLayout. Unfortunately this approach is slower than a ternary.

C# program that uses StructLayout for bool conversion using System; using System.Runtime.InteropServices; [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Explicit)] struct BoolConversion { [FieldOffset(0)] public bool boolValue; [FieldOffset(0)] public byte byteValue; } class Program { static void Main() { // Use special BoolConversion type to convert bool to int. bool testBool = true; int testInt = new BoolConversion { boolValue = testBool }.byteValue; Console.WriteLine("TEST INT: " + testInt); bool testBool2 = false; int testInt2 = new BoolConversion { boolValue = testBool2 }.byteValue; Console.WriteLine("TEST INT 2: " + testInt2); } } Output TEST INT: 1 TEST INT 2: 0

Unsafe. In C# we can write code that manipulates memory. We can convert a bool to an int in this way. This approach is slower than a ternary, and also unsafe—so it is not recommended.

C# program that uses unsafe bool conversion using System; class Program { static unsafe int ConvertBoolUnsafe(bool t) { int i = *(byte*)(&t); return i; } static void Main() { // Use unsafe method to convert booleans to ints. bool testBool = true; int testInt = ConvertBoolUnsafe(testBool); Console.WriteLine("TEST INT: " + testInt); bool testBool2 = false; int testInt2 = ConvertBoolUnsafe(testBool2); Console.WriteLine("TEST INT 2: " + testInt2); } } Output TEST INT: 1 TEST INT 2: 0

A summary. Use a ternary or if-statement to convert from bool to int. I suggest that the ternary statement above is best, as it involves the fewest characters to type and is simple.

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C# Convert Bool to Int

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