[c#] How to enumerate an enum

How can you enumerate an enum in C#?

E.g. the following code does not compile:

public enum Suit
{
    Spades,
    Hearts,
    Clubs,
    Diamonds
}

public void EnumerateAllSuitsDemoMethod()
{
    foreach (Suit suit in Suit)
    {
        DoSomething(suit);
    }
}

And it gives the following compile-time error:

'Suit' is a 'type' but is used like a 'variable'

It fails on the Suit keyword, the second one.

A simple and generic way to convert an enum to something you can interact:

public static Dictionary<int, string> ToList<T>() where T : struct
{
   return ((IEnumerable<T>)Enum
       .GetValues(typeof(T)))
       .ToDictionary(
           item => Convert.ToInt32(item),
           item => item.ToString());
}

And then:

var enums = EnumHelper.ToList<MyEnum>();

Add method public static IEnumerable<T> GetValues<T>() to your class, like:

public static IEnumerable<T> GetValues<T>()
{
    return Enum.GetValues(typeof(T)).Cast<T>();
}

Call and pass your enum. Now you can iterate through it using foreach:

 public static void EnumerateAllSuitsDemoMethod()
 {
     // Custom method
     var foos = GetValues<Suit>();
     foreach (var foo in foos)
     {
         // Do something
     }
 }

public void PrintAllSuits()
{
    foreach(string suit in Enum.GetNames(typeof(Suits)))
    {
        Console.WriteLine(suit);
    }
}

You won't get Enum.GetValues() in Silverlight.

Original Blog Post by Einar Ingebrigtsen:

public class EnumHelper
{
    public static T[] GetValues<T>()
    {
        Type enumType = typeof(T);

        if (!enumType.IsEnum)
        {
            throw new ArgumentException("Type '" + enumType.Name + "' is not an enum");
        }

        List<T> values = new List<T>();

        var fields = from field in enumType.GetFields()
                     where field.IsLiteral
                     select field;

        foreach (FieldInfo field in fields)
        {
            object value = field.GetValue(enumType);
            values.Add((T)value);
        }

        return values.ToArray();
    }

    public static object[] GetValues(Type enumType)
    {
        if (!enumType.IsEnum)
        {
            throw new ArgumentException("Type '" + enumType.Name + "' is not an enum");
        }

        List<object> values = new List<object>();

        var fields = from field in enumType.GetFields()
                     where field.IsLiteral
                     select field;

        foreach (FieldInfo field in fields)
        {
            object value = field.GetValue(enumType);
            values.Add(value);
        }

        return values.ToArray();
    }
}

I made some extensions for easy enum usage. Maybe someone can use it...

public static class EnumExtensions
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Gets all items for an enum value.
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="T"></typeparam>
    /// <param name="value">The value.</param>
    /// <returns></returns>
    public static IEnumerable<T> GetAllItems<T>(this Enum value)
    {
        foreach (object item in Enum.GetValues(typeof(T)))
        {
            yield return (T)item;
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Gets all items for an enum type.
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="T"></typeparam>
    /// <param name="value">The value.</param>
    /// <returns></returns>
    public static IEnumerable<T> GetAllItems<T>() where T : struct
    {
        foreach (object item in Enum.GetValues(typeof(T)))
        {
            yield return (T)item;
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Gets all combined items from an enum value.
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="T"></typeparam>
    /// <param name="value">The value.</param>
    /// <returns></returns>
    /// <example>
    /// Displays ValueA and ValueB.
    /// <code>
    /// EnumExample dummy = EnumExample.Combi;
    /// foreach (var item in dummy.GetAllSelectedItems<EnumExample>())
    /// {
    ///    Console.WriteLine(item);
    /// }
    /// </code>
    /// </example>
    public static IEnumerable<T> GetAllSelectedItems<T>(this Enum value)
    {
        int valueAsInt = Convert.ToInt32(value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);

        foreach (object item in Enum.GetValues(typeof(T)))
        {
            int itemAsInt = Convert.ToInt32(item, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);

            if (itemAsInt == (valueAsInt & itemAsInt))
            {
                yield return (T)item;
            }
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Determines whether the enum value contains a specific value.
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="value">The value.</param>
    /// <param name="request">The request.</param>
    /// <returns>
    ///     <c>true</c> if value contains the specified value; otherwise, <c>false</c>.
    /// </returns>
    /// <example>
    /// <code>
    /// EnumExample dummy = EnumExample.Combi;
    /// if (dummy.Contains<EnumExample>(EnumExample.ValueA))
    /// {
    ///     Console.WriteLine("dummy contains EnumExample.ValueA");
    /// }
    /// </code>
    /// </example>
    public static bool Contains<T>(this Enum value, T request)
    {
        int valueAsInt = Convert.ToInt32(value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
        int requestAsInt = Convert.ToInt32(request, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);

        if (requestAsInt == (valueAsInt & requestAsInt))
        {
            return true;
        }

        return false;
    }
}

The enum itself must be decorated with the FlagsAttribute:

[Flags]
public enum EnumExample
{
    ValueA = 1,
    ValueB = 2,
    ValueC = 4,
    ValueD = 8,
    Combi = ValueA | ValueB
}

If you have:

enum Suit
{
   Spades,
   Hearts,
   Clubs,
   Diamonds
}

This:

foreach (var e in Enum.GetValues(typeof(Suit)))
{
    Console.WriteLine(e.ToString() + " = " + (int)e);
}

Will output:

Spades = 0
Hearts = 1
Clubs = 2
Diamonds = 3

There are two ways to iterate an Enum:

1. var values =  Enum.GetValues(typeof(myenum))
2. var values =  Enum.GetNames(typeof(myenum))

The first will give you values in form on an array of **object**s, and the second will give you values in form of an array of **String**s.

Use it in a foreach loop as below:

foreach(var value in values)
{
    // Do operations here
}

My solution works in .NET Compact Framework (3.5) and supports type checking at compile time:

public static List<T> GetEnumValues<T>() where T : new() {
    T valueType = new T();
    return typeof(T).GetFields()
        .Select(fieldInfo => (T)fieldInfo.GetValue(valueType))
        .Distinct()
        .ToList();
}

public static List<String> GetEnumNames<T>() {
    return typeof (T).GetFields()
        .Select(info => info.Name)
        .Distinct()
        .ToList();
}

• If anyone knows how to get rid of the T valueType = new T(), I'd be happy to see a solution.

A call would look like this:

List<MyEnum> result = Utils.GetEnumValues<MyEnum>();

When you have a bit enum like this

enum DemoFlags
{
    DemoFlag = 1,
    OtherFlag = 2,
    TestFlag = 4,
    LastFlag = 8,
}

With this assignement

DemoFlags demoFlags = DemoFlags.DemoFlag | DemoFlags.TestFlag;

and need a result like this

"DemoFlag | TestFlag"

this method helps:

public static string ConvertToEnumString<T>(T enumToConvert, string separator = " | ") where T : Enum
{
    StringBuilder convertedEnums = new StringBuilder();

    foreach (T enumValue in Enum.GetValues(typeof(T)))
    {
        if (enumToConvert.HasFlag(enumValue)) convertedEnums.Append($"{ enumValue }{separator}");
    }

    if (convertedEnums.Length > 0) convertedEnums.Length -= separator.Length;

    return convertedEnums.ToString();
}

Three ways:

1. Enum.GetValues(type) // Since .NET 1.1, not in Silverlight or .NET Compact Framework
2. type.GetEnumValues() // Only on .NET 4 and above
3. type.GetFields().Where(x => x.IsLiteral).Select(x => x.GetValue(null)) // Works everywhere

I am not sure why GetEnumValues was introduced on type instances. It isn't very readable at all for me.

Having a helper class like Enum<T> is what is most readable and memorable for me:

public static class Enum<T> where T : struct, IComparable, IFormattable, IConvertible
{
    public static IEnumerable<T> GetValues()
    {
        return (T[])Enum.GetValues(typeof(T));
    }

    public static IEnumerable<string> GetNames()
    {
        return Enum.GetNames(typeof(T));
    }
}

Now you call:

Enum<Suit>.GetValues();

// Or
Enum.GetValues(typeof(Suit)); // Pretty consistent style

One can also use some sort of caching if performance matters, but I don't expect this to be an issue at all.

public static class Enum<T> where T : struct, IComparable, IFormattable, IConvertible
{
    // Lazily loaded
    static T[] values;
    static string[] names;

    public static IEnumerable<T> GetValues()
    {
        return values ?? (values = (T[])Enum.GetValues(typeof(T)));
    }

    public static IEnumerable<string> GetNames()
    {
        return names ?? (names = Enum.GetNames(typeof(T)));
    }
}

I think its help you try it.

public class Program
{

    public static List<T> GetEnamList<T>()
    {
        var enums = Enum.GetValues(typeof(T)).Cast<T>().Select(v => v).ToList();
        return enums;
    }
    private void LoadEnumList()
    {
        List<DayofWeek> dayofweeks = GetEnamList<DayofWeek>();

        foreach (var item in dayofweeks)
        {
            dayofweeks.Add(item);
        }
    }
}

    public enum DayofWeek
    {
        Monday,
        Tuesday,
        Wensday,
        Thursday,
        Friday,
        Sturday,
        Sunday
    }

I know it is a bit messy, but if you are fan of one-liners, here is one:

((Suit[])Enum.GetValues(typeof(Suit))).ToList().ForEach(i => DoSomething(i));

For getting a list of int from an enum, use the following. It works!

List<int> listEnumValues = new List<int>();
YourEnumType[] myEnumMembers = (YourEnumType[])Enum.GetValues(typeof(YourEnumType));
foreach ( YourEnumType enumMember in myEnumMembers)
{
    listEnumValues.Add(enumMember.GetHashCode());
}

Just by combining the top answers, I threw together a very simple extension:

public static class EnumExtensions
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Gets all items for an enum value.
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="T"></typeparam>
    /// <param name="value">The value.</param>
    /// <returns></returns>
    public static IEnumerable<T> GetAllItems<T>(this T value) where T : Enum
    {
        return (T[])Enum.GetValues(typeof (T));
    }
}

It is clean, simple, and, by @Jeppe-Stig-Nielsen's comment, fast.

Use Cast<T>:

var suits = Enum.GetValues(typeof(Suit)).Cast<Suit>();

There you go, IEnumerable<Suit>.

I think this is more efficient than other suggestions because GetValues() is not called each time you have a loop. It is also more concise. And you get a compile-time error, not a runtime exception if Suit is not an enum.

EnumLoop<Suit>.ForEach((suit) => {
    DoSomethingWith(suit);
});

EnumLoop has this completely generic definition:

class EnumLoop<Key> where Key : struct, IConvertible {
    static readonly Key[] arr = (Key[])Enum.GetValues(typeof(Key));
    static internal void ForEach(Action<Key> act) {
        for (int i = 0; i < arr.Length; i++) {
            act(arr[i]);
        }
    }
}

If you need speed and type checking at build and run time, this helper method is better than using LINQ to cast each element:

public static T[] GetEnumValues<T>() where T : struct, IComparable, IFormattable, IConvertible
{
    if (typeof(T).BaseType != typeof(Enum))
    {
        throw new ArgumentException(string.Format("{0} is not of type System.Enum", typeof(T)));
    }
    return Enum.GetValues(typeof(T)) as T[];
}

And you can use it like below:

static readonly YourEnum[] _values = GetEnumValues<YourEnum>();

Of course you can return IEnumerable<T>, but that buys you nothing here.

New .NET 5 solution:

.NET 5 has introduced a a generic version for the GetValues method:

Suit[] suitValues = Enum.GetValues<Suit>();

Usage in a foreach loop:

foreach (Suit suit in Enum.GetValues<Suit>())
{

}

which is now by far the most convenient solution.

Some versions of the .NET framework do not support Enum.GetValues. Here's a good workaround from Ideas 2.0: Enum.GetValues in Compact Framework:

public Enum[] GetValues(Enum enumeration)
{
    FieldInfo[] fields = enumeration.GetType().GetFields(BindingFlags.Static | BindingFlags.Public);
    Enum[] enumerations = new Enum[fields.Length];

    for (var i = 0; i < fields.Length; i++)
        enumerations[i] = (Enum) fields[i].GetValue(enumeration);

    return enumerations;
}

As with any code that involves reflection, you should take steps to ensure it runs only once and results are cached.

I think you can use

Enum.GetNames(Suit)

I use ToString() then split and parse the spit array in flags.

[Flags]
public enum ABC {
   a = 1,
   b = 2,
   c = 4
};

public IEnumerable<ABC> Getselected (ABC flags)
{
   var values = flags.ToString().Split(',');
   var enums = values.Select(x => (ABC)Enum.Parse(typeof(ABC), x.Trim()));
   return enums;
}

ABC temp= ABC.a | ABC.b;
var list = getSelected (temp);
foreach (var item in list)
{
   Console.WriteLine(item.ToString() + " ID=" + (int)item);
}

foreach (Suit suit in Enum.GetValues(typeof(Suit)))
{
}

(The current accepted answer has a cast that I don't think is needed (although I may be wrong).)

I do not hold the opinion this is better, or even good. I am just stating yet another solution.

If enum values range strictly from 0 to n - 1, a generic alternative is:

public void EnumerateEnum<T>()
{
    int length = Enum.GetValues(typeof(T)).Length;
    for (var i = 0; i < length; i++)
    {
        var @enum = (T)(object)i;
    }
}

If enum values are contiguous and you can provide the first and last element of the enum, then:

public void EnumerateEnum()
{
    for (var i = Suit.Spade; i <= Suit.Diamond; i++)
    {
        var @enum = i;
    }
}

But that's not strictly enumerating, just looping. The second method is much faster than any other approach though...

foreach (Suit suit in Enum.GetValues(typeof(Suit))) { }

I've heard vague rumours that this is terifically slow. Anyone know? – Orion Edwards Oct 15 '08 at 1:31 7

I think caching the array would speed it up considerably. It looks like you're getting a new array (through reflection) every time. Rather:

Array enums = Enum.GetValues(typeof(Suit));
foreach (Suit suitEnum in enums) 
{
    DoSomething(suitEnum);
}

That's at least a little faster, ja?

What if you know the type will be an enum, but you don't know what the exact type is at compile time?

public class EnumHelper
{
    public static IEnumerable<T> GetValues<T>()
    {
        return Enum.GetValues(typeof(T)).Cast<T>();
    }

    public static IEnumerable getListOfEnum(Type type)
    {
        MethodInfo getValuesMethod = typeof(EnumHelper).GetMethod("GetValues").MakeGenericMethod(type);
        return (IEnumerable)getValuesMethod.Invoke(null, null);
    }
}

The method getListOfEnum uses reflection to take any enum type and returns an IEnumerable of all enum values.

Usage:

Type myType = someEnumValue.GetType();

IEnumerable resultEnumerable = getListOfEnum(myType);

foreach (var item in resultEnumerable)
{
    Console.WriteLine(String.Format("Item: {0} Value: {1}",item.ToString(),(int)item));
}

LINQ Generic Way:

    public static Dictionary<int, string> ToList<T>() where T : struct =>
        ((IEnumerable<T>)Enum.GetValues(typeof(T))).ToDictionary(value => Convert.ToInt32(value), value => value.ToString());

Usage:

        var enums = ToList<Enum>();

Here is a working example of creating select options for a DDL:

var resman = ViewModelResources.TimeFrame.ResourceManager;

ViewBag.TimeFrames = from MapOverlayTimeFrames timeFrame
      in Enum.GetValues(typeof(MapOverlayTimeFrames))
      select new SelectListItem
      {
         Value = timeFrame.ToString(),
         Text = resman.GetString(timeFrame.ToString()) ?? timeFrame.ToString()
      };

This question appears in Chapter 10 of "C# Step by Step 2013"

The author uses a double for-loop to iterate through a pair of Enumerators (to create a full deck of cards):

class Pack
{
    public const int NumSuits = 4;
    public const int CardsPerSuit = 13;
    private PlayingCard[,] cardPack;

    public Pack()
    {
        this.cardPack = new PlayingCard[NumSuits, CardsPerSuit];
        for (Suit suit = Suit.Clubs; suit <= Suit.Spades; suit++)
        {
            for (Value value = Value.Two; value <= Value.Ace; value++)
            {
                cardPack[(int)suit, (int)value] = new PlayingCard(suit, value);
            }
        }
    }
}

In this case, Suit and Value are both enumerations:

enum Suit { Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, Spades }
enum Value { Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace}

and PlayingCard is a card object with a defined Suit and Value:

class PlayingCard
{
    private readonly Suit suit;
    private readonly Value value;

    public PlayingCard(Suit s, Value v)
    {
        this.suit = s;
        this.value = v;
    }
}

enum types are called "enumeration types" not because they are containers that "enumerate" values (which they aren't), but because they are defined by enumerating the possible values for a variable of that type.

(Actually, that's a bit more complicated than that - enum types are considered to have an "underlying" integer type, which means each enum value corresponds to an integer value (this is typically implicit, but can be manually specified). C# was designed in a way so that you could stuff any integer of that type into the enum variable, even if it isn't a "named" value.)

The System.Enum.GetNames method can be used to retrieve an array of strings which are the names of the enum values, as the name suggests.

EDIT: Should have suggested the System.Enum.GetValues method instead. Oops.

Also you can bind to the public static members of the enum directly by using reflection:

typeof(Suit).GetMembers(BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Static)
    .ToList().ForEach(x => DoSomething(x.Name));

It looks to me like you really want to print out the names of each enum, rather than the values. In which case Enum.GetNames() seems to be the right approach.

public enum Suits
{
    Spades,
    Hearts,
    Clubs,
    Diamonds,
    NumSuits
}

public void PrintAllSuits()
{
    foreach (string name in Enum.GetNames(typeof(Suits)))
    {
        System.Console.WriteLine(name);
    }
}

By the way, incrementing the value is not a good way to enumerate the values of an enum. You should do this instead.

I would use Enum.GetValues(typeof(Suit)) instead.

public enum Suits
{
    Spades,
    Hearts,
    Clubs,
    Diamonds,
    NumSuits
}

public void PrintAllSuits()
{
    foreach (var suit in Enum.GetValues(typeof(Suits)))
    {
        System.Console.WriteLine(suit.ToString());
    }
}