how to convert a value type to byte[] in C#?

Question

I want to do the equivalent of this:

byte[] byteArray;
enum commands : byte {one, two};
commands content = one;
byteArray = (byte*)&content;

Answer 1

For anyone who's interested in how it works without using BitConverter you can do it like this:

// Convert double to byte[]
public unsafe byte[] pack(double d) {
    byte[] packed = new byte[8]; // There are 8 bytes in a double
    void* ptr = &d; // Get a reference to the memory containing the double
    for (int i = 0; i < 8; i++) { // Each one of the 8 bytes needs to be added to the byte array
        packed[i] = (byte)(*(UInt64 *)ptr >> (8 * i)); // Bit shift so that each chunk of 8 bits (1 byte) is cast as a byte and added to array 
    }
    return packed;
}

// Convert byte[] to double
public unsafe double unpackDouble(byte[] data) {
    double unpacked = 0.0; // Prepare a chunk of memory ready for the double
    void* ptr = &unpacked; // Reference the double memory
    for (int i = 0; i < data.Length; i++) {
        *(UInt64 *)ptr |= ((UInt64)data[i] << (8 * i)); // Get the bits into the right place and OR into the double
    }
    return unpacked;
}

In reality it's much easier and safer to use BitConverter but it's fun to know!