Computing Dictionary
implicit type conversion definition
programming (Or "coercion") The abilty of some
compilers to automatically insert
type conversion
functions where an expression of one type is used in a context where another type is expected.
A common example is coercion of
integers to
reals so that an expression like sin(1) is compiled as sin(integerToReal(1)) where sin is of type Real -> Real.
A coercion is usually performed automatically by the compiler whereas a
cast is an
explicit type conversion inserted by the programmer.
See also
subtype.
(1997-07-28)
