Casting

• Casting is a process of converting from one data type into

another data type for compatibility.
• In SystemVerilog, a data type is essential to mention while
declaring a variable and it can hold values of the same data
type.
• For example, the int data type cannot hold real data type
values. If we try doing so, it will lead to a compilation error.
Casting helps to resolve this problem.
• There are two types of casting in SystemVerilog
1.Static Casting
2.Dynamic Casting
Static Casting

• As the name suggests, static casting is only applicable

to fixed data types. It does not apply to the Object-
Oriented programming concept.
Syntax -: <data_type>'(value or variable or expression)
• It converts values or variables from one data type to
another data type.
• Static casting is checked during compile time. So, there
will not be any run time error.
• Ex-: real to int, int to real, a string to int, expression in
casting, concatenation in casting is used.
Dynamic Casting

• Dynamic casting is used to cast the assigned values to the

variables that might not be ordinarily valid. The $cast is the
system method.
• The $cast can be either function or task
• Syntax -:
function int $cast(destination, source);
task $cast(destination, source);
• In both $cast as a function or task, $cast will try to assign source
value or expression to the destination variable. If dynamic
casting fails due to incompatible assignments, the destination
variable will remain unchanged. The only difference between
$cast as a function and as a task is mentioned.
• $cast as a task: If $cast fails, it will cause a runtime
error.
• $cast as a function: As $cast as a function returns 1
for legal casting, otherwise it returns 0. But run time
error will not occur for failed casting and the destination
variable will be unchanged.
• Will see example
• Dynamic casting is used to, safely cast a super-class pointer
(reference) into a subclass pointer (reference) in a class hierarchy
• Dynamic casting will be checked during run time, an attempt to
cast an object to an incompatible object will result in a run-time
error
• Dynamic casting is done using the $cast(destination, source)
method
• With $cast compatibility of the assignment will not be checked
during compile time, it will be checked during run-time
• parent_class = child_class; //allowed
• child_class = parent_class; //not-allowed
module dynamic_cast_example;
typedef enum {DIODE=10, BJT=100, MOSFET=250, FINFET=300} devices;
initial begin
devices dev;

if($cast(dev, 250 + 50))

$display("A: Device used = %s",dev.name());
else
$display("A: Dynamic casting failed");

if($cast(dev, 250 + 20))

$display("B: Device used = %s",dev.name());
else
$display("B: Dynamic casting failed");
end
endmodule
Static casting example
module casting_example;
string name;
int num[3];
real r_num;
initial begin
name = "A";
r_num = 2.8;

num[0] = int'(name); //Takes ascii value for string

num[1] = int'(r_num);

r_num = 2.125 + real'({4'h1, 4'hA}); // 'h1A = 'd26

num[2] = int'((num[0] == 65)?r_num: 4.7);

$display("casting from string to int: num[0] = %0d", num[0]);

$display("casting from real to int: num[1] = %0d", num[1]);
$display("casting from int to real: r_num = %0f", r_num);
$display("casting an expression from real to int: num[2] = %0d", num[2]);
end
endmodule
Int to string and string to int
module test_vars();
int a,b;
int myInt;
string String1, OtherString2, abc;
initial begin
// int myInt = 32'h1200d2d5;
myInt= 96;
a = 10;
abc ="BMW";
$display("myInt = %h", myInt);
// first cast
$sformat(String1, myInt);
// second cast
Continue ………..
OtherString2 = string'(myInt);
$display("String1 = %h, OtherString2 = %h", String1, OtherString2);
$display("String2 = %d, OtherString2 = %d", String1, OtherString2);
$display("string = %0s, myotheer = %0s",String1,OtherString2);
$sformat(String1, a);
OtherString2 = string'(a);
$display("String1 = %h, myOtherString2 = %h", String1, OtherString2);

$display("String1 = %h, OtherString2 = %h", String1, OtherString2);

b = int'(abc);
$disply("-------------");
$display("a = %h, b = %s", OtherString2,b);
end
endmodule : test_vars
• class A;
int m=10;
int n=20;
function new();
m=30;
n=40;
endfunction
function void display();
$display("m=%0d n=%0d",m,n);
endfunction
endclass
class B extends A;
int o=50,p=60;
function new();
o=70;
p=80;
endfunction
function void display();
$display("o=%0d p=%0d",o,p);
endfunction
endclass
• module tb();
A tr1;
B tr2;
B tr3;
initial begin
//tr1=new();
tr2=new();
//tr1.display();
tr2.display();
tr1=tr2;
tr1.display();
tr2.display();
/*$cast(tr3,tr1);
tr1.display();
tr3.display(); */
/*tr3=tr1;
tr1.display();
tr3.display();*/
$cast(tr3,tr2);
tr2.display();
tr3.display();
end
endmodule
• 1) take a spi_transaction class contain properties like clk, cs, and display the
properites
• 2) create a spi_transaction_extended class by using spi_transaction, it contains
properties like 32-bits of miso, mosi. and assign some values. and display
• 3) by using parent handle I need to access the child properties, display both
parent and child data.
• 4) take one more handle for child class c2, then assign child to parent and
print the data.
• 5) take a string and int, convert string to int and int to strig, and display the
string and int variables.
• 6) take a local, protected properties and access from outside of the base class
and print the values.