Type Casting with CAST

Sometimes data isn't in the type you need. CAST converts values between types.

Basic syntax: CAST(value AS type)

Common conversions: CAST(salary AS TEXT) -- number to text CAST('42' AS INTEGER) -- text to number CAST(price AS REAL) -- integer to decimal

Useful when dividing integers (avoids integer division):

SELECT CAST(total AS REAL) / count AS average
FROM stats;

Without CAST, 7 / 2 = 3 (integer division). With CAST, 7.0 / 2 = 3.5 (decimal division).