Converting Data Types (Visual Basic)

Conversion methods change the type of input objects.

Conversion operations in LINQ queries are useful in a variety of applications. The following are some examples:

Methods

The following table lists the standard query operator methods that perform data-type conversions.

The conversion methods in this table whose names start with "As" change the static type of the source collection but do not enumerate it. The methods whose names start with "To" enumerate the source collection and put the items into the corresponding collection type.

Method Name Description Visual Basic Query Expression Syntax More Information
AsEnumerable Returns the input typed as IEnumerable<T>. Not applicable. Enumerable.AsEnumerable
AsQueryable Converts a (generic) IEnumerable to a (generic) IQueryable. Not applicable. Queryable.AsQueryable
Cast Casts the elements of a collection to a specified type. From … As … Enumerable.Cast

Queryable.Cast
OfType Filters values, depending on their ability to be cast to a specified type. Not applicable. Enumerable.OfType

Queryable.OfType
ToArray Converts a collection to an array. This method forces query execution. Not applicable. Enumerable.ToArray
ToDictionary Puts elements into a Dictionary<TKey,TValue> based on a key selector function. This method forces query execution. Not applicable. Enumerable.ToDictionary
ToList Converts a collection to a List<T>. This method forces query execution. Not applicable. Enumerable.ToList
ToLookup Puts elements into a Lookup<TKey,TElement> (a one-to-many dictionary) based on a key selector function. This method forces query execution. Not applicable. Enumerable.ToLookup

Query Expression Syntax Example

The following code example uses the From As clause to cast a type to a subtype before accessing a member that is available only on the subtype.

Class Plant
    Public Property Name As String
End Class

Class CarnivorousPlant
    Inherits Plant
    Public Property TrapType As String
End Class

Sub Cast()

    Dim plants() As Plant = {
        New CarnivorousPlant With {.Name = "Venus Fly Trap", .TrapType = "Snap Trap"},
        New CarnivorousPlant With {.Name = "Pitcher Plant", .TrapType = "Pitfall Trap"},
        New CarnivorousPlant With {.Name = "Sundew", .TrapType = "Flypaper Trap"},
        New CarnivorousPlant With {.Name = "Waterwheel Plant", .TrapType = "Snap Trap"}}

    Dim query = From plant As CarnivorousPlant In plants
                Where plant.TrapType = "Snap Trap"
                Select plant

    Dim sb As New System.Text.StringBuilder()
    For Each plant In query
        sb.AppendLine(plant.Name)
    Next

    ' Display the results.
    MsgBox(sb.ToString())

    ' This code produces the following output:

    ' Venus Fly Trap
    ' Waterwheel Plant

End Sub

See also