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| Enum and Arrays, what is the difference? |
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This message was discovered on microsoft.public.dotnet.languages.csharp.
| Shane |
Can someone please explain the difference between using an enum and using an
array? It would seem to me that you would always just use an array. Can
someone also explain when you would use an array and when it would be ideal
to use an enum.
TIA,
Shane
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| Nicholas Paldino [.NET MVP] |
Shane,
An array is used to store an arbitrary number of items that are the same
type (or derive from the same time).
An enumeration is used to give a lexical representation to a numeric
value, of which there is a fixed set of values to choose from. For example,
a days of the week enumeration would be:
public enum DayOfWeek
{
Sunday,
Monday,
Tuesday,
Wednesday,
Thursday,
Friday,
Saturday
}
The value for Sunday would be 0, Monday would be 1, and so on, and so
on.
Arrays, on the other hand, can contain the same values over and over
again. They are nothing more than containes for multiple items of the same
type.
Hope this helps.
--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET MVP]
- Click here to reveal e-mail address
"Shane" <Click here to reveal e-mail address> wrote in message
news:OpgXL6m1BHA.1160@tkmsftngp04...
> Can someone please explain the difference between using an enum and using
an
[Original message clipped]
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| Paitum |
Enumerations and Arrays are used in very different ways.
An enumeration is a way to create some related constants. For instance, if
you were creating a calendar program, then you might create an enumeration
for the days of the week.
public enum Days { Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday };
This creates a data-type called Days and 7 constants. In this example
"Days.Sunday" = 0, "Days.Monday" = 1 and so on... This is MUCH better than
just using number values throughout your program. Decide for yourself:
Which of the following code segments make more sense?
Without Enumerations
int today = 5;
if ( today != 0 && today != 4 )
...;
With Enumerations
Days today = Days.Thursday;
if ( today != Days.Sunday && today != Days.Thursday )
...;
If you prefer the top example because it is smaller think about the day that
somebody else might have to read your code.
An Array is data-type that stores many similar objects. If you have ever
written a program that had variables like:
int data1;
int data2;
int data3;
then you'd probably have been better off using an array. The above example
would be:
int[] data = new int[3];
( Arrays can become fairly tricky, and I'd recommend getting a C# book. )
The array version of this data is more flexible than the stand-alone
variables for many reasons. Lets say you had 50 numbers you wanted to
store. Then let's say you wanted to add them all up. Which of the
following code looks good:
Without Arrays
int sum = data1 + data2 + data3 + data4 + data5 + data6 + data7 + data8
+ data9 + data10
+ data11 + data12 + data13 + data14 + data15 + data16 + data17 +
data18 + data19 + data20
+ data21 + data22 + data23 + data24 + data25 + data26 + data27 +
data28 + data29 + data30
+ data31 + data32 + data33 + data34 + data35 + data36 + data37 +
data38 + data39 + data40
+ data41 + data42 + data43 + data44 + data45 + data46 + data47 +
data48 + data49 + data50;
With Arrays
int sum = 0;
for( int x = 0; x < data.length; x++ )
sum = sum + data[x];
Final thought. You can have an Array of enumerations, but NOT an
enumeration of arrays ( doesn't even make sense )
Array of Enumerations
Days[] month = new Days[30];
month[0] = Days.Sunday;
if ( month[1] == Days.Monday )
...;
-- Paitum
"Shane" <Click here to reveal e-mail address> wrote in message
news:OpgXL6m1BHA.1160@tkmsftngp04...
> Can someone please explain the difference between using an enum and using
an
[Original message clipped]
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| -glenn- |
Paitum, someone recently pointed this out in a previous thread, but I'll
restate it here. When naming your enums, make them singular. (enum Day
instead of enum Days.) This reads much better everywhere the enum is used.
And it's the convention that .Net uses.
Excellent explanation nonetheless.
-glenn-
"Paitum" <Click here to reveal e-mail address> wrote in message
news:uBqr0Mn1BHA.2272@tkmsftngp02...
[Original message clipped]
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| Shane |
Thanks to everyone who replied. It makes much more sense now.
Shane
"-glenn-" <Click here to reveal e-mail address> wrote in message
news:u7xtPDo1BHA.2660@tkmsftngp05...
[Original message clipped]
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