Convert char array to unsigned char*

Question

Is there a way to convert char[] to unsigned char*?

char buf[50] = "this is a test"; 
unsigned char* conbuf = // what should I add here

Answer 1

Although it may not be technically 100% legal this will work reinterpret_cast<unsigned char*>(buf).

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The reason this is not 100% technically legal is due to section 5.2.10 expr.reinterpret.cast bullet 7.

A pointer to an object can be explicitly converted to a pointer to an object of a different type. original type yields the original pointer value, the result of such a pointer conversion is unspecified.

Which I take to mean that *reinterpret_cast<unsigned char*>(buf) = 'a' is unspecified but *reinterpret_cast<char*>(reinterpret_cast<unsigned char*>(buf)) = 'a' is OK.

Answer 2

Just cast it?

unsigned char *conbuf = (unsigned char *)buf;