The integer is a type of data we are very familiar with, as it’s present in every single aspect of programming. The same can be said with char. However, we realized that not many people place the correct amount of respect for them.

That is the reason for this guide’s creation, to instruct you on how to convert int to char in C.

How To Convert Int To Char In C With ‘0’

The first method that we will share is, as always, the simplest one, which is to add in a ‘0’. It goes without saying that in return for speed and simplicity, it acquires some clear weaknesses.

You see, ‘0’’s value in ASCII is 48, which is also the range between an integer value and its corresponding character. That is why you get the exact char value you are looking for as long as you add in a ‘0’ behind the number.

#include<stdio.h> 

int main(void) { 
    int number=71; 
    char charValue = number+'0'; 
    printf("The character value is :%c",charValue); 
    return 0; 
}

It does have a huge weakness of being quite hard to implement for a larger database. After all, each character requires a code to turn. This can slow down your computing speed in a significant way.

How To Convert Int To Char In C By Assigning

Another method just as easy as the first one is to perform a simple assigning process. As you can guess, its strongest advantage is that there is no restriction to follow through with.

#include<stdio.h> 

int main(void) { 
    int number = 65; 
    char charvalue = number; 
    printf("The character value :%c", charvalue); 
    return 0; 
}

Once you call the command, the computer automatically takes care of the rest. That is why we refer to this method as the first one on steroids. They share the same principle, but the second approach takes a lot less effort to use.

It’s like converting a string to a date-time object.

How To Convert Int To Char In C Using sprintf()

If you feel like sprintf() looks suspiciously similar to printf(), you are absolutely right. These two functions share the same process. However, instead of putting the output on your console, sprintf() returns to you the string formatted.

That is why this function requires an additional input of the target string’s pointer to the usual input parameters. Here is its syntax:

int sprintf(char *strValue, const char *format, [arg1, arg2, ... ]);

As you can see, the most vital element, the pointer to a char data type, is asked first. Then, you put in which format you want to display the output in as well as whichever placeholder you want. The last thing to add is, of course, all the integers you want to convert.

A clear strength of this method is that it can take care of multiple integer values with the same effort as one integer value. This advantage can only grow more and more influential the bigger your database becomes.

#include<stdio.h> 

int main(void) { 
    int number = 72; 
    char charValue[1]; 
    sprintf(charValue, "%c", number); 
    printf("The character value = %s", charValue); 
    return 0; 
}

Conclusion

All the three approaches that we have provided on how to convert int to char in C have unique strengths and weaknesses. You should not interchange any of them, but figure out which situations fit with each solution.

Once you master this technique, even the biggest of databases become child’s play, as you only need to alter the composition for a bit.