C# Enumeration

Enumeration provides efficient way to assign multiple constant integral values to a single variable. Enumeration improves code clarity and makes program easier to maintain. Enumeration in C# also provides more security by better error-checking technology and compiler warnings.


An enumeration can be defined using enum keyword. In enumeration, you can define special set of value that can be assigned with enumeration. For Example, you are creating an attendance log application in which a variable can contains value only Monday to Friday. The other value will not be applicable with variables. In order to fulfill this requirement you need to use enumeration that will hold only assigned values and will returns numeric position of values starting with zero.


Programming Example of Enumeration (C#)

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using System;

namespace Enumeration
{
  // creating enumeration for storing day.
  public enum attandance
   {
     Monday,
     Tuesday,
     Wednesday,
     Thursday,
     Friday
   }

  class Program
   {
     static void Main(string[] args)
      {
        attandance present = attandance.Monday;//Valid
        Console.WriteLine(present);
           
        //attandance absent = attandance.Sunday;//Invalid
        Console.ReadLine();
      }
   }
}

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Output 

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Monday

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In the preceding example, we create attendance enumeration in which 5 values are assigned as Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Only these 5 values are valid entry for attendance enumeration variable. If you assign other entry as Sunday or Saturday, it will be invalid and you will get compile time error in C# programming.