c# - Is there a try Convert.ToInt32... avoiding exceptions

Question

I'd like to know if there is a "safe" way to convert an object to an int, avoiding exceptions.

I'm looking for something like public static bool TryToInt32(object value, out int result);

I know I could make something like this:

public static bool TryToInt32(object value, out int result)
{
    try
    {
        result = Convert.ToInt32(value);
        return true;
    }
    catch
    {
        result = 0;
        return false;
    }
}

But I'd rather avoid exceptions, because they are slowing down the process.

I think this is more elegant, but it's still "cheap":

public static bool TryToInt32(object value, out int result)
{
    if (value == null)
    {
        result = 0;
        return false;
    }

    return int.TryParse(value.ToString(), out result);
}

Does anyone have better ideas?

UPDATE:

This sounds a little like splitting hairs, but converting an object to string forces the implementer to create a clear ToString() function. For example:

public class Percentage
{
    public int Value { get; set; }

    public override string ToString()
    {
        return string.Format("{0}%", Value);
    }
}

Percentage p = new Percentage();
p.Value = 50;

int v;
if (int.TryParse(p.ToString(), out v))
{

}

This goes wrong, I can do two things here, or implement the IConvertable like this:

public static bool ToInt32(object value, out int result)
{
    if (value == null)
    {
        result = 0;
        return false;
    }

    if (value is IConvertible)
    {
        result = ((IConvertible)value).ToInt32(Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture);
        return true;
    }

    return int.TryParse(value.ToString(), out result);
}

But the ToInt32 method of the IConvertible cannot be canceled. So if it's not possible to convert the value, an exception cannot be avoided.

Or two: Is there a way to check if the object contains a implicit operator?

This is very poor:

if (value.GetType().GetMethods().FirstOrDefault(method => method.Name == "op_Implicit" && method.ReturnType == typeof(int)) != null)
{
    result = (int)value;
    return true;
}

Answer 1

int variable = 0;
int.TryParse(stringValue, out variable);

If it can't be parsed, the variable will be 0. See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/f02979c7.aspx