Python Type Conversion

Today, I learned about Type Conversion in Python.

Type conversion is the process of converting a value from one data type to another data type.

For example, we may convert:

• int → float
• float → int
• int → str
• str → int
• and many other combinations.

In Python, type conversion mainly happens in two ways:

1. Implicit Type Conversion
2. Explicit Type Conversion

1. Implicit Type Conversion

Implicit Type Conversion means that Python automatically converts one data type into another when it is necessary.

In simple words, we don’t have to tell Python to perform the conversion. The Python interpreter does it automatically.

Let’s understand this with an example.

Example

# Type conversion 1 - IMPLICIT

x = 12
y = 12.7
z = 14
print(type(x + y + z))

Output

<class 'float'>

Here:

x = 12

x is an int.

y = 12.7

y is a float.

z = 14

z is also an int.

When we perform:

x + y + z

Python needs to perform the calculation using compatible numeric types. Because a float is involved, the integer values are promoted to float for the calculation.

Therefore, the final result is a float.

Simple Flow

Integer + Float → Python automatically converts/promotes the integer → Calculation → Float result

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER — Insert the “Python Implicit Type Conversion” flowchart here]

Download the Python Implicit Type Conversion flowchart

2. Explicit Type Conversion

Explicit Type Conversion means that we manually convert one data type into another.

In simple words, we tell Python which data type we want the value to be converted into.

For this, Python provides built-in functions such as:

int()
float()
str()
bool()
complex()

Let’s understand this with an example.

Example

# Type conversion 2 - EXPLICIT

x = 10.3435463
y = 452342
print(int(x))
print(type(x))
print(float(y))
print(type(y))

Output

10
<class 'float'>
452342.0
<class 'int'>

Here:

x = 10.3435463

The value of x is a float.

When we use:

int(x)

Python converts the value from float to int.

The result is:

10

Notice that the decimal part is removed. int() does not round the number; it removes the fractional part.

Similarly:

y = 452342

y is an int.

Get Nikesh Varma Kodali’s stories in your inbox

Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.

Remember me for faster sign in

When we use:

float(y)

Python converts the integer into a floating-point number:

452342.0

Simple Flow

Float → int() → Integer

Integer → float() → Float

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER — Insert the “Python Explicit Type Conversion” flowchart here]

Download the Python Explicit Type Conversion flowchart

Some Common Type Conversion Functions

Python provides several built-in functions for explicit type conversion.

Function — — — — — — — -> Converts a value to

int() ----------------> Integer

float()---------------->Floating-point number

str()---------------->String

bool()---------------->Boolean

complex()---------------->Complex number

x = "100"

print(int(x))
print(type(int(x)))

Output:

100
<class 'int'>

Here, the string "100" is explicitly converted into an integer using int().

A Small Example with Different Data Types

Let’s also look at a complex number.

x = 24 + 6j

print(type(x))

Output

<class 'complex'>

Here, x is a complex number, not a float.

A complex number in Python contains a real part and an imaginary part.

In this example:

24 + 6j

• 24 → Real part
• 6j → Imaginary part

So Python identifies the value as:

complex

This is an important point because the screenshot you originally provided showed:

<class 'float'>

for the complex-number example. That output would be incorrect for:

x = 24 + 6j
print(type(x))

The correct output is:

<class 'complex'>

Implicit vs Explicit Type Conversion

Now let’s quickly understand the difference.

Implicit Conversion

Python performs the conversion automatically.

x = 10
y = 2.5

result = x + y
print(result)
print(type(result))

Output:

12.5
<class 'float'>

We didn’t manually convert x. Python handled the type promotion during the operation.

Explicit Conversion

We perform the conversion manually using a function.

x = 10.5

y = int(x)
print(y)
print(type(y))

Output:

10
<class 'int'>

Here, we explicitly told Python to convert x into an integer.