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Python 3: From Beginner to Advanced

Data Type Conversion

Explore how to use Python's built-in functions to convert between data types such as integers, floats, and strings. Understand practical examples and when to apply these conversions to manage data effectively in your programs.

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Conversions between data types

There are several different data types available in Python. Sometimes, you might come across a scenario where you need to perform conversions from one data type to another.

In Python, conversions between types can be made by using its built-in functions, a few of which are mentioned below.

Conversion Function Description Example
float()
Converts the element passed to a floating-point number float(123), float("123") = 123.0
int()
Converts the element passed to an integer int(56.78), int("56") = 56
str()
Converts the element passed to a string str(123) = “123”

In Python, the built-in type() function can be used to check the data type of variables.

Using this, let’s look at a few examples to get a better grasp of these built-in functions.

Python 3.5
float_var = 56.78 # Float variable
int_var = 123 # Integer variable
str_var = "123.2" # String variable
res_int = int(float_var) # Converting float to integer
print(res_int)
print("Type: ", type(res_int)) # Checking type of res_int
res_str = str(float_var) # Converting float to string
print(res_str)
print("Type: ", type(res_str)) # Checking type of res_str
res_ftr = float(str_var) # Converting string to float
print(res_ftr)
print("Type: ", type(res_ftr)) # Checking type of res_ftr

Although not its main functionality, the round() function can also be used to convert data types. For example, round(56.78) returns 57. Over here, the floating-point number is rounded to the nearest integer.

Python 3.5
## Using round() for converting data types
# Note, the 0 represents the number of decimals you want the number to be rounded off to. 
float_var = 56.78
print(round(float_var, 0)) # We don't want any decimal numbers over here.