c# why Convert.ToInt16(num) vs ToInt16(num)?

Question

what is the difference between Convert.ToInt16(somenumber) and ToInt16(somenumber) and also vs. (ToInt16)somenumber

when do we have to use one over the other?

Answer 1

Convert.Int16() is a method (probably) in System.Convert. It has a number of overloads that convert from a type to Int16

.ToInt16() could be a method defined for a particular class, but most likely you are just referring to the exact same method. Read up on namespaces.

But if you have a class called Unicorn and it has a ToInt16() method, you obviously will have to use that as there is no overload in System.Convert that supports Unicorn.