What function is used to convert a string to an integer in Python?

The function used to convert a string to an integer in Python is the int() function. This function takes a string representation of a number as an argument and returns its integer value. For example, if you provide a string like "42" to int(), it will convert that string into the integer 42.

When using int(), it also allows for optional parameters, such as specifying the base of the number system (e.g., base 2 for binary or base 16 for hexadecimal), making it a versatile tool for such conversions. This functionality is essential in programming when performing arithmetic or logic operations that require numerical data types rather than string types.

The other choices have different purposes: str() is used to convert other data types to strings, convert() is not a built-in Python function, and float() is specifically used to convert a string or other data types to a floating-point number. This context establishes why int() is the appropriate function for converting strings to integers in Python, thereby affirming its correctness.