Simple Integer Enum

Question

I'm new with enums and I'd like to create one to compare an integer to a more comprehensible definition.

if (getFruit() == myEnum.APPLE) {
    // ...
}

instead of

if (getFruit() == 1) {
    // ...
}

Where getFruit() returns values like 1,2 and so on

Answer 1

You are missing the point of enums... you use them instead of "old school" int constants.

Have a look at this:

public enum Fruit {
    APPLE,
    ORANGE,
    BANANA
}

public class Dessert {

    private Fruit fruit;

    public Dessert(Fruit fruit) {
        this.fruit = fruit;
    }

    public Fruit getFruit() {
        return fruit;
    }
}

public class Test {

    Dessert dessert = new Dessert(Fruit.APPLE);
    if (dessert.getFruit() == Fruit.ORANGE) {
        // nope
    } else if (dessert.getFruit() == Fruit.APPLE) {
        // yep
    }
}

Answer 2

You can use getFruit() == myEnum.APPLE.ordinal() where ordinal is the order you declare the enums in your file.

public enum myEnum {
     APPLE, ORANGE, BANANA;
}

The ordinal for APPLE in this case is 0, ORANGE is 1, BANANA is 2.

Or you could do the following:

public enum myEnum {
    APPLE(1), ORANGE(2), BANANA(3);

    private final int i;

    private myEnum(int i){
        this.i=i;
    }

    public int getNumber(){
        return i;
    }
}

However, I would just make getFruit() return an enum.