C#: Convert String to Int

How to convert string to int in C#?

The top 3 ways to convert string to int in C# are:

1. TryParse

The best way to convert string to int in C# is to use the TryParse method.

To convert string to int in C#:

1. Pass the string as the first parameter to int.TryParse
2. Pass the int reference as the second parameter using the out parameter modifier.
3. Capture the boolean returned from int.TryParse.
4. If int.TryParse returned true, the string to int conversion worked.
5. If int.TryParse returned false, the string to int conversion failed and the int value will be 0 (default).

Here's the full code showing successful string to int conversion:

string number = "505";
if (int.TryParse(number, out int result))
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Conversion worked {result}"); // Conversion worked 505
}
else
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Conversion failed {result}");
}

Here's the full code showing failed string to int conversion:

string number = "invalid";
if (int.TryParse(number, out int result))
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Conversion worked {result}");
}
else
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Conversion failed {result}"); // Conversion failed 0
}

2. Parse

The main difference between int.TryParse and int.Parse is that int.TryParse won't throw an exception if the passed string is in invalid numeric format. On the other hand, int.Parse throws exceptions that we need to catch.

If you want to use int.Parse, make sure your string is in valid format or add code to catch exceptions.

Here's a code example of successful use of int.Parse:

string number = "505";
int result = int.Parse(number);
Console.WriteLine($"Conversion worked {result}"); // Conversion worked 505

If the input string is not a valid string representation of a number, string to int conversion fails:

string number = "invalid";
int result = int.Parse(number);

Error: System.FormatException: Input string was not in a correct format. at System.Number.ThrowOverflowOrFormatException(ParsingStatus status, TypeCode type) at System.Int32.Parse(String s)

3. Convert

Another way to convert string to int is to use the Convert class:

string number = "505";
int result = Convert.ToInt32(number);
Console.WriteLine($"Conversion worked {result}"); // Conversion worked 505

The static method Convert.ToInt32 uses int.Parse to convert string to int:

The main benefit of using Convert class instead of calling int.Parse directly is that Convert has overloads for different data types. For example, Convert.ToInt32() accepts both string and DateTime:

        public static int ToInt32(String value) ;
        public static int ToInt32(DateTime value);

So with Convert we can keep our syntax consistent.

Supported types

Convert is a static class that exposes methods for converting a string to varios numeric data types:

ToInt32 can throw FormatException or OverflowException.

FAQ

public static bool TryParse (string? s, out int result);

How does String to Int conversion work?

.NET uses the internal Number class from the System namespace to define logic that recognizes numbers in a string.

The most important method for converting String to Int is the ParseNumber method:

There are many gotchas when parsing an int. For example, leading spaces, trailing spaces, parentheses, currency symbols, and more.

ParseNumber supports complex scenarios using NumberStyles. Depending on the style you select, the parser validates and converts the string.