Enumeration Data Types in C++

 Enumeration Data Types

Introduction

• Enumeration (enum) is a user-defined data type in C++.
• create a set of named integral constants under a single type name.
• Improves readability and maintainability by replacing numeric codes with meaningful names.

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Syntax

enum enum_name { value1, value2, value3, ... };

• enum → keyword to define an enumeration.
• enum_name → the name of the new enumeration type.
• value1, value2, ... → identifiers representing integer constants.

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Default Behavior

• By default, the first enumerator has value 0, the next 1, and so on.
• explicitly assign values.

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Example  – Basic Enumeration

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

 

enum Day { MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI, SAT, SUN };

 

int main() {

    Day today = WED;

    cout << "Today is day number: " << today << endl;

    return 0;

}

Output:

Today is day number: 2

Explanation: MON=0, TUE=1, WED=2, etc.

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Example 2 – Custom Values

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

 

enum Month { JAN=1, FEB=2, MAR=3, APR=4, MAY=5, JUN=6, JUL=7, AUG=8, SEP=9, OCT=10, NOV=11, DEC=12 };

 

int main() {

    Month birthMonth = DEC;

    cout << "Birth month number: " << birthMonth << endl;

    return 0;

}

Output:

Birth month number: 12

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