C++ keyword operator on “this” pointer

Question

Struggling to understand this syntax that I've run across in open source code:

/// cast *this into an gpstk::RinexNavData.
/// @throw if the record is invalid or not an ephemeris (isNav()==false)
operator RinexNavData() throw(gpstk::Exception);

/// cast *this into a gpstk::RinexObsData
/// @throw if the record is invalid or not an observation (isObs()==false)
operator RinexObsData() throw(gpstk::Exception);

If I interpret the comment correctly, it is changing the type of the object via the "this" pointer. But this appears to be done via an operator? Can't hit on a good web search that involves the keyword "this". Looking for a reference or explanation on how this use of "operator" works. Web search of C++ operator doesn't lead to anything like this, that I've found so far.

Answer 1

Don't overthink the use of this here; *this just means "the current object", so the programmer is using a shorthand to describe what the operator does.

Indeed, like any conversion operator , it takes the current object and provides a means to convert it to a different type.