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22 Enumeration

An enum is a type that defines a fixed set of constants. It can be used as a variable type, parameter type, or return type. Defining an enum in Java specifies the possible values it can hold. Values are accessed using the enum name and can be compared using ==. Enums can have methods and attributes to associate data with the constants.

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26 views17 pages

22 Enumeration

An enum is a type that defines a fixed set of constants. It can be used as a variable type, parameter type, or return type. Defining an enum in Java specifies the possible values it can hold. Values are accessed using the enum name and can be compared using ==. Enums can have methods and attributes to associate data with the constants.

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abcd112121
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enum: Enumerated Type

An "enum" is a type with a fixed set of


elements.
What is "enum"
"enum" (enumeration) defines a new data type that has a
fixed set of values.

Example: Coffee has a size.


The size can be "small", "medium", or "large" -- but no
other values.

Coffee java = new Coffee( SMALL );

What we want. But


how to do in Java?
Define an enum
An "enum" defines a type, like "class" or "interface".
public enum Size {
SMALL, List each element
MEDIUM, followed by a COMMA,
LARGE; except last one.
}
// correct usage
Size size = Size.SMALL;
// illegal (no new instance)
Size size = new Size( );
Using an enum
enum type can be a variable, parameter, or return type

// can be parameter:
public void setSize(Size size) { this.size = size; }
// can compare values using ==
public double getPrice( Size size ) {
if (size == Size.SMALL) return 20.0;
if (size == Size.MEDIUM) return 30.0;
if (size == Size.LARGE) return 40.0;
else return 0; // possible if size is null
}
Why "enum"?
Compiler can check if values are legal or not.
Avoids Programming Errors
Better Type Safety
Example: suppose the Coffee size is a String.
class Coffee {
private String size;
public Coffee( String size ) {
this.size = size; NO ERROR!
}

Coffee sbucks = new Coffee( "Grande" );


Why "enum"? Font class
The font constructor is:
new Font(String name, int style, int size)

Font.PLAIN = 0
Font.BOLD = 1
Font.ITALIC = 2
Correct:
Font font = new Font("Arial",Font.BOLD,20);

Incorrect, but no error at compile or runtime:

Font font = new Font("Arial",20,Font.BOLD);

Result is a tiny font with pointsize = 1 (= Font.BOLD)


Applying enum to Coffee
public class Coffee {
private Size size;
public Coffee( Size size ) {
this.size = size;
}

public double getPrice( ) {


switch( size ) {
case Size.SMALL: return 20.0;
case Size.MEDIUM: return 30.0;
case Size.LARGE: return 40.0;
default: return 0;
}
}
Use of enum
1. You can declare a variable of an enum type:
Size size; // size is of type "Size"
2. You can assign a value to an enum variable:
Size s = Size.SMALL;
3. You can compare values using ==
if ( size == Size.SMALL ) price = 20.0;
4. You can use enum in switch.
switch( size ) { case SMALL: ... }
5. You can print the values (implicit toString() ).
System.out.println("Size is " + size );
enum values( ) method
 Every enum has a values( ) method that returns an
array of the members of the enum.
> Size.values( )
Size[ ]{ SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE }
Automatic conversion to String with same name as enum
elements:
> for( Size s: Size.values() )
System.out.println( s );
SMALL
MEDIUM
LARGE
Other Enum methods
 Every enum also has these methods

compareTo(E other) > Size.SMALL.compareTo( Size.LARGE)


-2

name( ) > Size.SMALL.name()


"SMALL"

valueOf( String ) Get enum member with the String value:


> Size.valueOf( "LARGE" )
(Size) Size.LARGE

toString() Returns declared name as String, like name( )


> Size.SMALL.toString()
"SMALL"
ordinal() Index of enum member in the set:
> int k = SMALL.ordinal()
0
enum can have attributes (properties)
 enum can have properties and methods, just like a
class.
Example: add a price attribute to Size enum.
enum Size {
SMALL(20.0), Declare attributes after
MEDIUM(30.0), the enum members.
LARGE(40.0);
private final double price;
/** constructor sets the price */
private Size(double price) {
this.price = price;
}
public int getPrice() { return price; }
Private Constructor
 enum can have constructors, but they must be private.
 Private is the default for "enum" constructors.

enum Size {
SMALL(20),
MEDIUM(30),
LARGE(40);
public final int price;
Size( int price) { this.price = price; }
public int getPrice() { return price; }
}
"private" by default.
Using enum Attributes
We can use enum price attribute to simplify getPrice.

class Coffee {
private Size size;
public Coffee( Size size ) { ... }

public double getPrice() {


return size.getPrice();
}
if size is null then throw
IllegalArgumentException
Attributes should make sense
enum represent constants. enum can have multiple
uses.
But price is something likely to vary or change.

class Pizza {
Size size; // size of the pizza
double getPrice() {
return size.getPrice();
}

Arrrrgh! This is the coffee price!


enum for Length
Use enum for values of length in a UnitConverter
public enum Length {
METER("meter", 1.0),
KILOMETER("km", 1000.0),
MILE("mile", 1609.344), Attributes as
WA("wa", 2.0);
public constants
public final double value;
public final String name;
public Length( String name, double val ) {
this.value = val; this.name = name; }
public String toString() { return name; }
}
Length enum
1. Length values don't change -- good use of property.
2. Attribs are public final as convenience for programmer:
// convert 2.5 kilometers to miles
double km = 2.5;
double mi = km * Length.KILOMETER.value /
Length.MILE.value ;
// don't need to call getValue()

3. Define toString() in Length for prettier output:


Length without toString: Length.MILE ==> "MILE"
Length with toString: Length.MILE ==> "Mile"
UML for Enumeration

enum with no methods:


<<enum>>
<<enumeration>> Length
Size METER
SMALL KILOMETER
MEDIUM MILE
LARGE WA
+toString(): String

UML Distilled has notation for enum in UML.

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