An enum is a distinctive type designed to represent a collection of constants (immutable values).
To define an enum, employ the enum keyword, specify the enum’s name, and separate individual enum items with commas:
| enum Level { LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH }; |
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Please note that the last item in the enum list does not necessitate a comma. While uppercase usage is not mandatory, it is commonly regarded as good practice. The term “enum” is an abbreviation for “enumerations”, which implies “specifically listed”. |
To utilize the enum, you need to instantiate a variable of its type.
Within the main() method, declare the enum keyword, followed by the enum’s name (e.g., Level), and then specify the name of the enum variable (e.g., myVar in this instance):
| enum Level myVar; |
Now that you’ve established an enum variable (myVar), you can allocate a value to it.
The assigned value must correspond to one of the items within the enum (LOW, MEDIUM, or HIGH):
| enum Level myVar = MEDIUM; |
By default, the first item (LOW) is assigned the value 0, the second (MEDIUM) is assigned the value 1, and so forth.
If you attempt to print myVar now, it will display 1, indicating MEDIUM.
| int main() { // Create an enum variable and assign a value to it enum Level myVar = MEDIUM; // Print the enum variable return 0; |
As you’re aware, by default, the first item of an enum is assigned the value 0, the second has the value 1, and so forth.
To provide more meaningful values, you can easily customize them:
| enum Level { LOW = 25, MEDIUM = 50, HIGH = 75 }; |
| printf(“%d”, myVar); // Now outputs 50 |
Keep in mind that if you assign a value to a specific item, the subsequent items will automatically adjust their values accordingly:
| enum Level { LOW = 5, MEDIUM, // Now 6 HIGH // Now 7 }; |
Enums are commonly employed within switch statements to verify against corresponding values.
| enum Level { LOW = 1, MEDIUM, HIGH }; int main() { switch (myVar) { |
Why And When To Use Enums?Enums are employed to assign names to constants, enhancing code readability and maintainability. Utilize enums for values that are expected to remain constant, such as days of the week, colors, playing card suits, and so on. |
