C# Academy · Lesson

User-Defined Conversions

Add implicit and explicit conversion operators.

User-Defined Conversions is a free C# Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the C# Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

User-Defined Conversions

C# lets a type define how it converts to or from another type using the implicit and explicit operators. Implicit conversions happen automatically; explicit ones require a cast.

An Implicit Conversion

Use implicit operator when a conversion is always safe and lossless. The compiler applies it automatically wherever the target type is expected.

using System;

public struct Celsius
{
    public double Degrees;
    public Celsius(double d) { Degrees = d; }

    // Always safe: a Celsius is just a number
    public static implicit operator double(Celsius c) => c.Degrees;
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        Celsius temp = new Celsius(21.5);
        double d = temp; // implicit, no cast needed
        Console.WriteLine(d);
    }
}

An Explicit Conversion

Use explicit operator when a conversion can lose information or fail. Callers must write a cast, signalling that they accept the risk.

using System;

public struct Money
{
    public decimal Amount;
    public Money(decimal a) { Amount = a; }

    // Loses the fractional cents, so make it explicit
    public static explicit operator int(Money m) => (int)m.Amount;
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        var m = new Money(19.99m);
        int dollars = (int)m; // explicit cast required
        Console.WriteLine(dollars);
    }
}

Converting Into Your Type

Conversions can also go the other way: from another type into yours. Here an implicit operator builds a Celsius from a raw double.

using System;

public struct Celsius
{
    public double Degrees;
    public Celsius(double d) { Degrees = d; }

    public static implicit operator Celsius(double d) => new Celsius(d);

    public override string ToString() => Degrees + "C";
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        Celsius t = 18.0; // double implicitly becomes Celsius
        Console.WriteLine(t);
    }
}

Implicit vs Explicit: Choosing

The rule of thumb: make it implicit only if it never loses data and never throws. If it can lose precision, overflow, or fail, make it explicit.

using System;

public struct Percentage
{
    public double Value; // 0..1
    public Percentage(double v) { Value = v; }

    // Safe and lossless -> implicit
    public static implicit operator double(Percentage p) => p.Value;
    // Could be out of range -> explicit
    public static explicit operator Percentage(double v) => new Percentage(v);
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        double d = new Percentage(0.25);
        var p = (Percentage)0.5;
        Console.WriteLine(d + " " + p.Value);
    }
}

Conversions Between Custom Types

Conversions are not limited to built-in types. You can convert between two of your own types, for example from polar to cartesian coordinates.

using System;

public struct Cartesian
{
    public double X, Y;
    public Cartesian(double x, double y) { X = x; Y = y; }
    public override string ToString() => "(" + Math.Round(X, 2) + ", " + Math.Round(Y, 2) + ")";
}

public struct Polar
{
    public double R, Theta;
    public Polar(double r, double theta) { R = r; Theta = theta; }
    public static explicit operator Cartesian(Polar p)
        => new Cartesian(p.R * Math.Cos(p.Theta), p.R * Math.Sin(p.Theta));
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        var c = (Cartesian)new Polar(1.0, 0.0);
        Console.WriteLine(c);
    }
}

Conversions Compose With Operators

Once a conversion exists, the value participates in expressions of the target type. An implicit conversion to double lets your type be used in arithmetic directly.

using System;

public struct Meters
{
    public double Value;
    public Meters(double v) { Value = v; }
    public static implicit operator double(Meters m) => m.Value;
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        var distance = new Meters(5);
        double doubled = distance * 2; // uses implicit conversion to double
        Console.WriteLine(doubled);
    }
}

Avoid Surprising Implicit Conversions

Implicit conversions that are not obviously safe can hide bugs, because the compiler applies them silently. When in doubt, prefer explicit so the intent is visible in the code.

using System;

public struct UserId
{
    public int Value;
    public UserId(int v) { Value = v; }
    // Explicit on purpose: an int is not always a valid id
    public static explicit operator UserId(int v) => new UserId(v);
    public static explicit operator int(UserId id) => id.Value;
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        var id = (UserId)42;
        int raw = (int)id;
        Console.WriteLine(raw);
    }
}

Conversion Operators Are static

Like other operators, conversion operators are public static. Exactly one of the involved types must be the type that declares the operator.

using System;

public struct Fahrenheit
{
    public double Degrees;
    public Fahrenheit(double d) { Degrees = d; }
    public static implicit operator Fahrenheit(double d) => new Fahrenheit(d);
    public static implicit operator double(Fahrenheit f) => f.Degrees;
    public override string ToString() => Degrees + "F";
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        Fahrenheit f = 98.6;
        double d = f;
        Console.WriteLine(f + " = " + d);
    }
}

A Practical Wrapper Type

Conversions shine for thin wrapper types that strengthen the type system without friction. Here a NonEmptyString converts implicitly to string but requires an explicit cast to create.

using System;

public struct NonEmptyString
{
    public string Value;
    public NonEmptyString(string v)
    {
        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(v)) throw new ArgumentException("empty");
        Value = v;
    }
    public static explicit operator NonEmptyString(string s) => new NonEmptyString(s);
    public static implicit operator string(NonEmptyString s) => s.Value;
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        var name = (NonEmptyString)"Ada";
        string s = name;
        Console.WriteLine(s);
    }
}

Try It Yourself

Define a wrapper with an implicit conversion out (safe) and an explicit conversion in (validated). Notice which direction needs a cast.

using System;

public struct Ratio
{
    public double Value;
    public Ratio(double v)
    {
        if (v < 0 || v > 1) throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(v));
        Value = v;
    }
    public static implicit operator double(Ratio r) => r.Value; // always safe
    public static explicit operator Ratio(double v) => new Ratio(v); // may throw
}

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        var half = (Ratio)0.5;   // explicit, validated
        double d = half;          // implicit, safe
        Console.WriteLine(d * 100 + "%");
    }
}

Quick Check

Choose the right conversion kind.

Recap

User-defined conversions let your types interoperate cleanly.

implicit operator for always-safe, lossless conversions.
explicit operator when data can be lost or the conversion can fail.
Conversions can target built-in or custom types, in either direction.
They are public static and declared by one of the involved types.

Frequently asked questions

Is the “User-Defined Conversions” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “User-Defined Conversions” is free to read here on the web, and the C# Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the C# Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “User-Defined Conversions”?

Add implicit and explicit conversion operators. You practise C# Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start C# Academy?

No prior experience is required. C# Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “User-Defined Conversions” lesson take?

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