# Type conversion

Smartstore ships with a flexible conversion framework so strings, numbers, collections and even complex objects can be converted at runtime. The system is built around `ITypeConverter` implementations that are discovered through a factory.

## Built‑in converters

`TypeConverterFactory` maintains a list of provider classes that supply converters for a target type. By default it wires up providers for [attribute based converters, simple primitives, dictionaries and collections](https://github.com/smartstore/Smartstore/blob/d97047da4e40d075c77926a9803bbf7690e2f8fb/src/Smartstore/ComponentModel/TypeConverterFactory.cs#L16-L22). A request for a converter iterates these providers and falls back to `DefaultTypeConverter` [when none matches](https://github.com/smartstore/Smartstore/blob/d97047da4e40d075c77926a9803bbf7690e2f8fb/src/Smartstore/ComponentModel/TypeConverterFactory.cs#L59).

`ConvertUtility.TryConvert` uses that factory to perform the actual conversion. It first looks for a converter for the destination type and, if none fits, tries the source type while [honoring the supplied culture](https://github.com/smartstore/Smartstore/blob/d97047da4e40d075c77926a9803bbf7690e2f8fb/src/Smartstore/Utilities/ConvertUtility.cs#L71). For convenience, every object exposes `Convert<T>` extension methods that [call into `ConvertUtility`](https://github.com/smartstore/Smartstore/blob/d97047da4e40d075c77926a9803bbf7690e2f8fb/src/Smartstore/Extensions/ObjectExtensions.cs#L12-L20).

## Example

```csharp
// comma separated string to a list of integers
var ids = "1,2,3".Convert<IList<int>>();

// dictionary to a POCO
var dict = new Dictionary<string, object?> { ["Name"] = "Demo", ["Age"] = 42 };
var person = dict.Convert<Person>();
```

## Custom converters

Implementing `ITypeConverter` allows converting arbitrary types. Converters can be supplied by a custom `ITypeConverterProvider` or attached to a type via `[TypeConverter]` so the factory can discover them automatically. A converter should report supported source/target types via `CanConvertFrom`/`CanConvertTo` and implement the conversion logic in `ConvertFrom`/`ConvertTo`.

[Dictionary converters](https://github.com/smartstore/Smartstore/blob/d97047da4e40d075c77926a9803bbf7690e2f8fb/src/Smartstore/ComponentModel/TypeConverters/DictionaryTypeConverter.cs#L19-L31), for example, can materialize `IDictionary<string, object>` from a `JObject` or plain object and also project a dictionary back into a POCO with a default constructor.

## Extending

Additional providers may be added to `TypeConverterFactory.Providers` at application start to register module specific converters. This makes it possible to support domain specific formats or legacy representations without touching core code.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://dev.smartstore.com/framework/advanced/type-conversion.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.