Return Enum Constant based on an incoming String Value

Question

I'm going to grab the enum value from a querystring.

For instance lets say I have this enum:

Enum MyEnum
{
    Test1,
    Test2,
    Test3
}

I'm going to grab the value from an incoming querystring, so:

string myEnumStringValue = Request["somevar"];

myEnumStringValue could be "0", "1", "2"

I need to get back the actual Enum Constant based on that string value.

I could go and create a method that takes in the string and then perform a case statement

case "0":
    return MyEnum.Test1;
    break;

but there's got to be an easier or more slick way to do this?

Jeff Sternal · Accepted Answer · 2010-06-17 19:04:52Z

8

Take a look at Enum.Parse, which can convert names or values to the correct enum value.

Once you have that, cast the result to MyEnum and call ToString() to get the name of the constant.

return ((MyEnum)Enum.Parse(typeof(MyEnum), Request["somevar"])).ToString();

answered Jun 17, 2010 at 19:04

Jeff Sternal

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3 Comments

Jeff Sternal Over a year ago

Indeed, and Enum.Parse handles that. (Though I may not have fleshed out my answer when you posted that!)

PositiveGuy Over a year ago

Yea, not trying to get the name of the constant to string..but the constant itself

PositiveGuy Over a year ago

so I just need the (MyEnum)Enum.Parse(typeof(MyEnum), Request["somevar"]. Thanks did not know about the parse yet.

Petar Minchev · Accepted Answer · 2010-06-17 19:05:20Z

2

There is built-in functionality for this task:

MyEnum convertedEnum = (MyEnum) Enum.Parse(typeof(MyEnum), myEnumStringValue);

answered Jun 17, 2010 at 19:05

Petar Minchev

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1 Comment

Petar Minchev Over a year ago

Hah, it seems Enum.Parse handles it:) Learned something new:)

SLaks · Accepted Answer · 2010-06-17 19:06:19Z

2

You need to parse the string to get its integer value, cast the value to the Enum type, then get the enum value's name, like this:

string myEnumStringValue = ((MyEnum)int.Parse(Request["somevar"])).ToString();

EDIT: Or, you can simply call Enum.Parse. However, this should be a little bit faster.

answered Jun 17, 2010 at 19:06

SLaks

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2 Comments

Zachary Over a year ago

Is there a benefit to using the Enum.Parse() vs. int.Parse()? Example: ((MyEnum)Enum.Parse(typeof(MyEnum), Request["somevar"])).ToString();

SLaks Over a year ago

@Zacharay: int.Parse is a little faster.

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