How to store enum values in a NSMutableArray

Question

My problem is since an enum in objective-c essentially is an int value, I am not able to store it in a NSMutableArray. Apparently NSMutableArray won't take any c-data types like an int.

Is there any common way to achieve this ?

typedef enum 
{
    green,
    blue,
    red

} MyColors;


NSMutableArray *list = [[NSMutableArray alloc] initWithObjects:
                             green,
                             blue,
                             red,
                             nil];

//Get enum value back out
MyColors greenColor = [list objectAtIndex:0];

indragie · Accepted Answer · 2010-03-21 15:36:24Z

66

Wrap the enum value in an NSNumber before putting it in the array:

NSNumber *greenColor = [NSNumber numberWithInt:green];
NSNumber *redColor = [NSNumber numberWithInt:red];
NSNumber *blueColor = [NSNumber numberWithInt:blue];
NSMutableArray *list = [[NSMutableArray alloc] initWithObjects:
                             greenColor,
                             blueColor,
                             redColor,
                             nil];

And retrieve it like this:

MyColors theGreenColor = [[list objectAtIndex:0] intValue];

answered Mar 21, 2010 at 15:36

indragie

18.2k17 gold badges100 silver badges165 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

DougW Over a year ago

Generally this should be safe, but there are cases when it is not, since enums can be represented internally as a variety of different types. See this answer for an alternative stackoverflow.com/questions/1187112/…

Alex Cio · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-05 13:10:09Z

23

A modern answer might look like:

NSMutableArray *list = 
 [NSMutableArray arrayWithArray:@[@(green), @(red), @(blue)]];

and:

MyColors theGreenColor = ((NSInteger*)list[0]).intValue;

edited Feb 5, 2015 at 13:10

Alex Cio

6,0705 gold badges46 silver badges75 bronze badges

answered Apr 20, 2014 at 18:17

Pat

8248 silver badges9 bronze badges

1 Comment

Haider Over a year ago

MyColors theGreenColor = ((NSInteger*)list[0]).intValue; Can be replaced by MyColors theGreenColor = (MyColors)[list[0] intValue];

nicktmro · Accepted Answer · 2010-04-18 00:42:44Z

10

Macatomy's answer is correct. But instead of NSNumber I would suggest you use NSValue. That is its purpose in life.

answered Apr 18, 2010 at 0:42

nicktmro

2,2882 gold badges22 silver badges31 bronze badges

Comments

Alex Cio · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-05 13:10:38Z

7

NSMutableArray *corners = [[NSMutableArray alloc] initWithObjects:
                           @(Right), 
                           @(Top), 
                           @(Left), 
                           @(Bottom), nil];
Corner cornerType = [corner[0] intValue];

edited Feb 5, 2015 at 13:10

Alex Cio

6,0705 gold badges46 silver badges75 bronze badges

answered Oct 14, 2014 at 6:38

Tai Le

9,3646 gold badges47 silver badges37 bronze badges

Comments

Thomas Zoechling · Accepted Answer · 2010-03-21 16:18:26Z

2

You can wrap your enum values in a NSNumber object:

[NSNumber numberWithInt:green];

edited Mar 21, 2010 at 16:18

answered Mar 21, 2010 at 15:33

Thomas Zoechling

34.3k3 gold badges84 silver badges114 bronze badges

Comments

Alex Cio · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-05 13:12:33Z

0

To go with NSNumber should be the right way normally. In some cases it can be useful to use them as NSString so in this case you could use this line of code:

[@(MyEnum) stringValue];

answered Feb 5, 2015 at 13:12

Alex Cio

6,0705 gold badges46 silver badges75 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to store enum values in a NSMutableArray

6 Answers 6

1 Comment

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

6 Answers 6

1 Comment

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related