Question

What is the difference between boxing and unboxing in C#?

Answer 1

Boxing and Unboxing are both used for type converting, but have some differences:

 

Boxing

 

Boxing is the process of converting a value type data type to the object or to any interface data type which is implemented by this value type. When the CLR boxes a value means when CLR converting a value type to Object Type, it wraps the value inside a System.Object and stores it on the heap area in the application domain. 

 

Example

 

 

Unboxing

 

Unboxing is also a process that is used to extract the value type from the object or any implemented interface type. Boxing may be done implicitly, but unboxing has to be explicit by code. 

 

Example:

 

 

 

The concept of boxing and unboxing underlies the C# unified view of the type system in which a value of any type can be treated as an object.