How to Convert char to int in Java?

In this tutorial, you will learn how to convert a char to an int in Java. We’ll cover methods to retrieve both the ASCII value and the numeric value of a char, with examples to illustrate each approach.

Java – Convert char to int

Converting char to int in Java – In Java, a char represents a single 16-bit Unicode character, while an int is a 32-bit signed integer. Converting a char to an int can mean retrieving its ASCII (or Unicode) value or obtaining its numeric value if it represents a digit.

Method 1: Getting the ASCII Value of a char

In Java, you can get the ASCII (or Unicode) value of a char by casting it to an int. This method works for all characters and will return the corresponding ASCII or Unicode integer value.

Example of Getting ASCII Value

public class CharToIntExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        char charVal = 'A';
        int asciiValue = (int) charVal; // Get ASCII value by casting
        System.out.println("Char value: " + charVal);
        System.out.println("ASCII value: " + asciiValue);
    }
}

Output

Char value: A
ASCII value: 65

In this example, the char 'A' has an ASCII value of 65, which is retrieved by casting the char to an int.

Method 2: Getting the Numeric Value of a Digit char

If the char represents a numeric digit (e.g., '1', '2'), you can use Character.getNumericValue() to obtain its integer representation. This method returns the numeric value of a Unicode character.

Example of Getting Numeric Value

public class CharToIntExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        char charVal = '5';
        int numericValue = Character.getNumericValue(charVal); // Get numeric value
        System.out.println("Char value: " + charVal);
        System.out.println("Numeric value: " + numericValue);
    }
}

Output

Char value: 5
Numeric value: 5

In this example, the char '5' is converted to the integer 5 using Character.getNumericValue().

Conclusion

Converting a char to an int in Java can be done in two ways: by casting to get the ASCII value or by using Character.getNumericValue() to obtain the numeric representation of a digit.