Type Conversion and Casting

Type conversion (also called type casting) is the process of converting a value from one data type to another. Python provides built-in functions for explicit type conversion: int() converts to integer, float() to floating-point number, str() to string, and bool() to boolean. Implicit conversion also occurs automatically when Python converts a value to a compatible type in expressions (like adding integer and float). When converting from float to int, the decimal part is truncated (not rounded). Converting non-numeric strings to numbers will raise a ValueError. The bool() function considers empty sequences (", [], ()), zero, and None as False, and most other values as True. It's important to handle conversion errors appropriately using try-except blocks when working with user input or external data. Understanding type conversion is crucial for data processing, user input handling, and working with different APIs that might return data in various formats. Proper type handling prevents runtime errors and ensures data integrity throughout your application.