C# enums as function parameters?

Question

Can you pass a standard c# enum as a parameter?

For example:

enum e1
{
    //...
}

enum e2
{
    //...
}

public void test()
{
    myFunc( e1 );
    myFunc( e2 );
}

public void myFunc( Enum e )
{
    // Iterate through all the values in e
}

By doing this I hope to retrieve all the names within any given enum. What would the Iteration code look like?

Daniel Schaffer · Accepted Answer · 2009-01-29 15:44:29Z

30

This!

        public void Foo(Enum e)
        {
            var names = Enum.GetNames(e.GetType());

            foreach (var name in names)
            {
                // do something!
            }
        }

EDIT: My bad, you did say iterate.

Note: I know I could just do the GetNames() call in my foreach statement, but I prefer to assign that type of thing to a method call first, as it's handy for debugging.

answered Jan 29, 2009 at 15:44

Daniel Schaffer

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2 Comments

tvanfosson Over a year ago

I'd probably assign the result to something. :-)

Daniel Schaffer Over a year ago

yeah whups... sorry, I got excited :D

pezi_pink_squirrel · Accepted Answer · 2009-01-29 15:43:23Z

3

Use the Enum.GetNames( typeof(e) ) method, this will return an array of strings with the names.

You can also use Enum.GetValues to obtain the counterpart values.

Edit -Whoops - if you are passing the parameter as Enum, you will need to use e.GetType() instead of typeof() which you would use if you had passed the parameter in as the actual Enum type name.

answered Jan 29, 2009 at 15:43

pezi_pink_squirrel

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Comments

ctacke · Accepted Answer · 2009-01-29 15:43:45Z

3

You mean something like Enum.GetNames?

answered Jan 29, 2009 at 15:43

ctacke

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Comments

Luke · Accepted Answer · 2009-01-29 15:44:39Z

3

Enum.GetValues Enum.GetNames

so something like...

foreach(e1 value in Enum.GetValues(typeof(e1)))

answered Jan 29, 2009 at 15:44

Luke

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Comments

Troy Alford · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-07 18:48:12Z

3

You will have trouble if you try passing an enum directly to myFunc, as in the following example:

enum e1 {something, other};
myFunc(e1);  // Syntax error: "e1 is a type, but is being used like a variable"

edited Nov 7, 2012 at 18:48

Troy Alford

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answered Nov 7, 2012 at 18:23

gg89

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2 Comments

iMortalitySX Over a year ago

That doesn't explain anything, in fact I have no issue passing an enum to a function in the way you describe...

Adam Parkin Over a year ago

Error: 'e1' is a 'type' but is used like a 'variable'

bruno conde · Accepted Answer · 2009-01-29 15:46:04Z

2

Like this:

    public void myFunc(Enum e)
    {
        foreach (var name in Enum.GetNames(typeof(e)))
        {
            Console.WriteLine(name);
        }
    }

answered Jan 29, 2009 at 15:46

bruno conde

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Comments

bgruen · Accepted Answer · 2009-06-19 12:51:20Z

1

correct is:

public void myFunc(Enum e)
{
    foreach (var name in Enum.GetNames(e.GetTye()))
    {
        Console.WriteLine(name);
    }
}

answered Jun 19, 2009 at 12:51

bgruen

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