Part 45 - C# Tutorial - Why Enums

Enums are strongly typed constants. Let's understand enums with an example. I have a customer class with Name and Gender properties. Gender is an integer. 
0 is an Unknown gender
1 is Male
2 is Female


This program is less readable and maintainable, as it operates on integrals instead of using enums.


In the next session we will replace, these integral numbers with enums, which makes the program better readable and maintainable.

Part 45 - C# Tutorial - Why Enums

using System;
public class Enums
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        Customer[] customers = new Customer[3];
        customers[0] = new Customer()
        {
            Name = "Mark",
            Gender = 1
        };
        customers[1] = new Customer()
        {
            Name = "Mary",
            Gender = 2
        };
        customers[2] = new Customer()
        {
            Name = "Sam",
            Gender = 0
        };
        foreach (Customer customer in customers)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Name = {0} && Gender = {1}", customer.Name, GetGender(customer.Gender));
        }
    }


    public static string GetGender(int gender)
    {
        // The swicth here is less readable because of these integral numbers
        switch (gender)
        {
            case 0:
                return "Unknown";
            case 1:
                return "Male";
            case 2:
                return "Female";
            default:
                return "Invalid Data for Gender";
        }
    }
}


// 0 - Unknown
// 1 - Male
// 2 - Female


public class Customer
{
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public int Gender { get; set; }
}
Please click here, to watch the video on rewriting the above example using enum, which makes the program more readable and mainatainable