What does "type casting" refer to in programming?

Type casting in programming refers to the conversion of a variable from one data type to another. This process is often necessary when operations involve different types, such as adding an integer to a floating-point number or combining strings with numeric values.

For example, if you have an integer and you want to perform arithmetic operations with a floating-point number, you may need to convert the integer to a float to ensure accurate calculations. Type casting can also help avoid issues like data loss or unexpected behavior when incompatible types are used in assignments or operations.

This transformation can be performed either implicitly (automatically by the programming language) or explicitly (by the programmer using specific syntax). Using the correct type is crucial to maintain the integrity of operations and prevent runtime errors. That's why understanding type casting is a fundamental concept in programming.