9.3 static_cast

The expression static_cast<T>(v) converts the value of the expression v to type T. It can be used for any type conversion that is allowed implicitly. In addition, any value can be cast to void, and any implicit conversion can be reversed if that cast would be legal as an old-style cast.

class B            {...};
class C: public B {...};
enum E {first=1, second=2, third=3};
void use_of_static_cast(C* c1)
{
  B* bp = c1;                  // implicit conversion
  C* c2 = static_cast<C*>(bp); // reverse implicit conversion
  int i = second;              // implicit conversion
  E e = static_cast<E>(i);    // reverse implicit conversion
}

The static_cast operator cannot be used to cast away const. You can use static_cast to cast “down” a hierarchy (from a base to a derived pointer or reference), but the conversion is not checked; the result might not be usable. A static_cast cannot be used to cast down from a virtual base class.