In the C# programming language, an int is a data type that represents a 32-bit signed integer. It can hold values ranging from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647. An int is often used to represent whole numbers in a program.
Both int.Parse and Convert.ToInt32 are used to convert a string representation of a number to its integer equivalent in C#. However, there are some differences between the two methods which is as below:
Exception handling:
int.Parse will throw a FormatException if the string cannot be parsed, while Convert.ToInt32 will return a default value (0) if the string cannot be parsed.
Numeric Base:
Convert.ToInt32 can handle conversions from strings in different numeric bases (such as binary, hexadecimal, etc.), while int.Parse only supports decimal representation.
Overloading:
Convert.ToInt32 has several overloads that allow you to specify the culture or the number format, while int.Parse does not have these options.
Conclusion:
In general, int.Parse is a faster option when you are certain the string can be parsed and you do not need to handle exceptional cases. Convert.ToInt32 is a better option when you need more control over the conversion process and when you need to handle cases where the string cannot be parsed.