Can assign integer value to char but can't assign integer variable to char

Question

Why doesn't the following code compile

int n = 5;
char c = n;

but the following does compile

char c = 5;

Aren't I just assigning an integer value to char in both cases?

Answer 1

A char can be assigned to an int without a cast because that is a widening conversion. To do the reverse, an int to a char requires a cast because it is a narrowing conversion.

See also JLS. Chapter 5. Conversions and Promotions .

Answer 2

His question is why his code does not compile, not how to do what he's trying to do.

The reason the line

char c = n

does not compile, is because the range of char (-2^15 to 2^15 - 1) is much smaller than the range of int (-2^31 to 2^31 - 1). The compiler sees you are trying to assign an int to a char, and stops you, because it realizes this.