Enums in Csharp Programming Language

What is Enums in C#?

enum (C# Reference) The enum keyword is used to declare an enumeration, a distinct type that consists of a set of named constants called the enumerator list. Enums in Csharp are Value data types.The enumerated type is declared using a keyword enum.

The syntax of enum

enum enum_name; 
{
   enumeration list constants
};

enum_name – Name of the enumeration
enumeration list constants – List of enum constants. This will be comma-separated identifiers.

Example of enum in C#

public class EnumTest
{
    enum Days { Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat };

    static void Main()
    {
        int x = (int)Days.Sun;
        int y = (int)Days.Fri;
        Console.WriteLine("Sun = {0}", x);
        Console.WriteLine("Fri = {0}", y);
    }
}
/* Output:
   Sun = 0
   Fri = 5
*/

How to enumerate enum in C#

The below example enumerates all the names or the constants that have been provided in the enum list.

using System;
namespace EnumExample
{
    class Program
    {
        enum MachineState
        {
            PowerOff = 0,
            Running = 5,
            Sleeping = 10,
            Hibernating = Sleeping + 5
        }
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            //Enumerate the MachineStat enum
            foreach (MachineState item in Enum.GetValues(typeof(MachineState)))
            {
                Console.WriteLine(item);
            }
            Console.ReadLine();           
        }
    }
}
//Output of the MachineState enumeration is shown below:
//PowerOff
//Running
//Sleeping
//Hibernating

The below example enumerates all the Integer values of the enum MachineState

using System;
namespace EnumExample
{
    class Program
    {
        enum MachineState
        {
            PowerOff = 0,
            Running = 5,
            Sleeping = 10,
            Hibernating = Sleeping + 5
        }
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            //Enumerate the MachineStat enum
            foreach (int item in Enum.GetValues(typeof(MachineState)))
            {
                Console.WriteLine(item);
            }
            Console.ReadLine();

         }
    }
}
//Output:
//0
//5
//10
//15

How to cast int to enum in C# and string to enum in C#

using System;
namespace EnumExample
{
    class Program
    {
        enum MachineState
        {
            PowerOff = 0,
            Running = 5,
            Sleeping = 10,
            Hibernating = Sleeping + 5
        }
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            //Cast Enum From String
            Console.WriteLine((MachineState)Enum.Parse(typeof(MachineState), "PowerOff"));

            //Cast Enum from Integer
            Console.WriteLine((MachineState)15);

            Console.ReadLine();
        }
    }
}

//Output:
//PowerOff
//Hibernating