The enum statement

ENUM is closely related to the #define preprocessor.

It allows you to define a list of aliases which represent integer numbers. For example if you find yourself coding something like:

        #define MON 1 
        #define TUE 2 
        #define WED 3 

You could use enum as below.

        enum week { Mon=1, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri Sat, Sun} days;
  or
        enum escapes { BELL   = '\a', BACKSPACE = '\b', HTAB = '\t',
                       RETURN = '\r', NEWLINE   = '\n', VTAB = '\v' };
                       
  or     
        enum boolean { FALSE = 0, TRUE };
 

An advantage of enum over #define is that it has scope This means that the variable (just like any other) is only visable within the block it was declared within.

You don't have to name the enum e.g.

        enum { FALSE = 0, TRUE };

Notes:

• If a variable is defined with enum it is considered by the compiler to be an integer, and can have ANY integer value assigned to it, it is not restericted to the values in the enum statement.

See Also:

C++ Enhancements to enum.

#define preprocessor.

Examples:

enum example 1.

enum example 2.

enum coding error.

Another enum coding error.

enum and #define coding error.