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Introduction

The cast method allows you to convert values to a different type in your query logic enclosed in { }. Cast ensures that the data types of variables are suitable for the operations you wish to perform.

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Example

Consider a scenario where you have a parameter named limit, but the user has provided a value as a string, "3", instead of a numeric value. To correctly perform a comparison operation, you need the value to be of a numeric type.

Without casting, the comparison in the following block would not work as expected:

{#if limit > 5}
    ...
{:else}
    ...
{/if}

This is because, with limit = "3", you’re comparing the string "3" to the number 5, which leads to an incorrect comparison.

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Solution: Using cast

To resolve this, you can use the cast function to convert limit to an integer:

{#if cast(limit, "int") > 5}
    ...
{:else}
    ...
{/if}

This way, if limit is "3", it gets converted to the numeric value 3 before the comparison, ensuring the operation is correctly performed.

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Accepted Casting Types

You can cast values to various types using the cast method. The following are the accepted types for casting:

  • string or text: Converts the value to a string. Both string and text perform the same function.
  • int: Converts the value to an integer.
  • float or number: Converts the value to a floating-point number. Both float and number are treated similarly.
  • bool or boolean: Converts the value to a boolean. Both bool and boolean are interchangeable and perform the same function.
  • date: Converts the value to a date.