C# : Enums : Part 17

• Enums are said as strongly typed constants
• When integral numbers are used for specifying any value than enums are used.
• If a program uses set of integral numbers consider them replacing with enums which makes the code more readable and maintainable.


• Consider example of program without using enum i.e. by using integral numbers to specify a value



 namespace IntegralNumbers  
 {  
   class Program  
   {  
     //Indication  
     //1 - Male  
     //2 - Female  
     public static void PrintGender(int num)  
     {  
       switch (num)  
       {  
         case 1:  
           Console.WriteLine("Gender is : Male");  
           break;  
         case 2:  
           Console.WriteLine("Gender is : Female");  
           break;  
         default:  
           Console.WriteLine("No Gender Specified");  
           break;  
       }  
     }  
     static void Main(string[] args)  
     {  
       PrintGender(2);  
     }  
   }  
 }  

• In above example you can see that 1 represents male and 2 represents female, thus this can be said as using numbers to specify value, hence in above consition enums can be used to make code more readable.


• Consider example below using enum.



 namespace Enum  
 {  
   class Program  
   {  
     public enum Gender  
     {  
       Male,  
       Female  
     }  
     public static void PrintGender(Gender gen)  
     {  
       switch (gen)  
       {  
         case Gender.Male:  
           Console.WriteLine("Gender is : Male");  
           break;  
         case Gender.Female:  
           Console.WriteLine("Gender is : Female");  
           break;  
         default:  
           Console.WriteLine("No Gender Specified");  
           break;  
       }  
     }  
     static void Main(string[] args)  
     {  
       PrintGender(Gender.Male);  
     }  
   }  
 }  

• In above example enums are used for specifying values, which makes the code more readable.