Enumeration are basically symbols that have fixed values. It is generally used in situations where we have to provide user with various fixed, per-defined choices or options. Let us consider an example of directions.
enum Directions{North, South, East, West};// syntax to declare an enum.
//Now creating an instance of Directions.
Directions D = Directions.East;
Console.WriteLine("{0}.", D); // Displays "East"
Thus the output is symbol itself rather than its value!Given below is an example of a code implementing enum on a structure.
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
namespace Enumerations
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
Employee E = new Employee("Shantanu", "Shirpure", 666,Employee.Genders.Male);
Console.WriteLine(E.ToString());
Console.ReadLine();
// if you dont use this command the console would compile and close immediately, and you wont be able to see the result.
}
struct Employee
{
public string firstName;
public string lastName;
public int id;
public Genders gender;
public Employee(string firstName, string lastName, int id, Genders gender) // this is a constructor.
{
// firstName = firstName;
this.firstName = firstName;
// Here string firstName of struct Employee has scope
//all through the methods hence to distinguish from parameters invoke this method.
this.lastName = lastName;
this.id = id;
this.gender = gender;
}
public override string ToString() // this is a method.
//override is a key word used to duplicate the systems method ToString with our own method
//this is called as polymorphism
{
return firstName + " " + lastName + " (" + gender + "), ID " + id;
}
public enum Genders : int { Male, Female };
}
}
}
Conclusion:-
Enums therefore improve the code readability by providing symbols for set of values.
