npm package: @stdlib/array-safe-casts
Description: Return a list of array data types to which a provided array data type can be safely cast.
Author: The Stdlib Authors
Latest version: 0.3.1

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# Safe Casts

[![NPM version][npm-image]][npm-url] [![Build Status][test-image]][test-url] [![Coverage Status][coverage-image]][coverage-url] <!-- [![dependencies][dependencies-image]][dependencies-url] -->

> Return a list of array [data types][@stdlib/array/dtypes] to which a provided array [data type][@stdlib/array/dtypes] can be safely cast.

<!-- Section to include introductory text. Make sure to keep an empty line after the intro `section` element and another before the `/section` close. -->

<section class="intro">

</section>

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<!-- Package usage documentation. -->

<section class="installation">

## Installation

```bash
npm install @stdlib/array-safe-casts
```

</section>

<section class="usage">

## Usage

```javascript
var safeCasts = require( '@stdlib/array-safe-casts' );
```

#### safeCasts( \[dtype] )

If provided a `dtype` argument, returns a list of array [data types][@stdlib/array/dtypes] to which a provided array [data type][@stdlib/array/dtypes] can be safely cast.

```javascript
var out = safeCasts( 'float32' );
// e.g., returns [ 'float32', 'float64', 'complex64', 'complex128', 'generic' ]
```

If not provided a `dtype` argument, the function returns a casting table.

```javascript
var out = safeCasts();
// returns {...}

var f32 = out[ 'float32' ];
// returns {...}

var v = f32[ 'float64' ];
// returns 1
```

If provided an unrecognized or unsupported `dtype`, the function returns `null`.

```javascript
var out = safeCasts( 'foo' );
// returns null
```

</section>

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<section class="notes">

</section>

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<!-- Package usage examples. -->

<section class="examples">

## Examples

<!-- eslint no-undef: "error" -->

```javascript
var dtypes = require( '@stdlib/array-dtypes' );
var safeCasts = require( '@stdlib/array-safe-casts' );

// Get the list of supported array data types:
var DTYPES = dtypes();

// Print the list of array data types to which a data type can be safely cast...
var list;
var i;
for ( i = 0; i < DTYPES.length; i++ ) {
    list = safeCasts( DTYPES[ i ] );
    console.log( '%s: %s', DTYPES[ i ], list.join( ', ' ) );
}
```

</section>

<!-- /.examples -->

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</section>

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<section class="related">

* * *

## See Also

-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/array-convert`][@stdlib/array/convert]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">convert an array to an array of a different data type.</span>
-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/array-convert-same`][@stdlib/array/convert-same]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">convert an array to the same data type as a second input array.</span>
-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/array-dtypes`][@stdlib/array/dtypes]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">list of array data types.</span>
-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/array-mostly-safe-casts`][@stdlib/array/mostly-safe-casts]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">return a list of array data types to which a provided array data type can be safely cast and, for floating-point data types, can be downcast.</span>
-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/array-same-kind-casts`][@stdlib/array/same-kind-casts]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">return a list of array data types to which a provided array data type can be safely cast or cast within the same kind.</span>
-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/ndarray-safe-casts`][@stdlib/ndarray/safe-casts]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">return a list of ndarray data types to which a provided ndarray data type can be safely cast.</span>

</section>

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<section class="main-repo" >

* * *

## Notice

This package is part of [stdlib][stdlib], a standard library for JavaScript and Node.js, with an emphasis on numerical and scientific computing. The library provides a collection of robust, high performance libraries for mathematics, statistics, streams, utilities, and more.

For more information on the project, filing bug reports and feature requests, and guidance on how to develop [stdlib][stdlib], see the main project [repository][stdlib].

#### Community

[![Chat][chat-image]][chat-url]

---

## License

See [LICENSE][stdlib-license].


## Copyright

Copyright &copy; 2016-2026. The Stdlib [Authors][stdlib-authors].

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[@stdlib/array/dtypes]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/array-dtypes

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[@stdlib/array/convert]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/array-convert

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[@stdlib/ndarray/safe-casts]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/ndarray-safe-casts

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