When comparing a string and an int, what is the difference between converting them both to a string vs converting them both to an int?
<p>What is the difference (both in terms of correctness and performance) between doing the following comparisons. </p>

<pre><code>int a = 100;
string b = "100";

if (a == Convert.ToInt16(b))
    //Do something

if (a.ToString() == b)
    //Do Something
</code></pre>

<p>If I have a string value that is always an int (say for storing an int in a hidden field on a webpage) I have always compared both values as integers because that is what the data is representing, but I would like a more technical reason.</p>
