Enums

An enum, or enumeration type, is a set of named labels that each represent a number.

Syntax

By default, each entry in an enum is assigned a zero-indexed value.

enum NinjaTurtle {
  Leonardo, // 0
  Michelangelo, // 1
  Donatello, // 2
  Raphael // 3
}

Console.WriteLine((int)NinjaTurtle.Raphael == 3); // Prints "True"

However, specific number values can also be assigned.

enum BreadCount {
  Dozen = 12,
  BakersDozen = 13,
  Gross = 144,
  GreatGross = 1728
}

Example

The following example uses an enum to identify whether a given place is a city, country, or planet.

using System.Collections.Generic;

public enum PlaceType {
  City,
  Country,
  Planet,
}

public class Place {
  public string name { get; set; }
  public PlaceType type { get; set; }

  public Place(string n, PlaceType t) {
    name = n;
    type = t;
  }
}

public class Example {
  public static void Main() {
    List<Place> places = new List<Place>();
    places.Add(new Place("Tokyo", PlaceType.City));
    places.Add(new Place("Canada", PlaceType.Country));
    places.Add(new Place("Jupiter", PlaceType.Planet));
  }
}

Codebyte Example

The following example uses an enum to classify different types of log messages.

us
Visit us
code
Hide code
Code
Output
Hide output
Hide output
Loading...
Run