reinterpret_cast cast cost

Question

My understanding is that C++ reinterpret_cast and C pointer cast is a just a compile-time functionality and that it has no performance cost at all.

Is this true?

Answer 1

That's right. No cost other than any gain/loss in performance for performing instructions at the new width, which I might add, is only a concern in rare cases. Casting between pointers on every platform I've ever heard of has zero cost, and no performance change whatsoever.