When should I define a (explicit or implicit) conversion operator in C#? [closed]

Answer 1

Generally, if two things are logically convertible. I use them in such situations to provide more fluent code. I also sometimes use them to get around language features that don't quite work the way I expect them to.

Here's a very simple, contrived example that illustrates the last idea that is similar to something I've used in production...

class Program
{. 
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        Code code1 = new Code { Id = 1, Description = "Hi" };
        Code code2 = new Code { Id = 2, Description = "There" };

        switch (code1)
        {
            case 23: 
              // do some stuff
              break;
            // other cases...
        }
    }
}

public class Code
{
    private int id;
    private string description;

    public int Id { get; set; }
    public string Description { get; set; }

    public static implicit operator int(Code code)
    {
        return code.Id;
    }
}