Cast int to enum in C#

Question

How can an int be cast to an enum in C#?

Answer 1

Sometimes you have an object to the MyEnum type. Like

var MyEnumType = typeof(MyEnumType);

Then:

Enum.ToObject(typeof(MyEnum), 3)

Answer 2

the easy and clear way for casting an int to enum in c#:

 public class Program
    {
        public enum Color : int
        {
            Blue = 0,
            Black = 1,
            Green = 2,
            Gray = 3,
            Yellow =4
        }

        public static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            //from string
            Console.WriteLine((Color) Enum.Parse(typeof(Color), "Green"));

            //from int
            Console.WriteLine((Color)2);

            //From number you can also
            Console.WriteLine((Color)Enum.ToObject(typeof(Color) ,2));
        }
    }

Answer 3

To convert a string to ENUM or int to ENUM constant we need to use Enum.Parse function. Here is a youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nhx4VwdRDk which actually demonstrate's with string and the same applies for int.

The code goes as shown below where "red" is the string and "MyColors" is the color ENUM which has the color constants.

MyColors EnumColors = (MyColors)Enum.Parse(typeof(MyColors), "Red");

Answer 4

Following is slightly better extension method

public static string ToEnumString<TEnum>(this int enumValue)
        {
            var enumString = enumValue.ToString();
            if (Enum.IsDefined(typeof(TEnum), enumValue))
            {
                enumString = ((TEnum) Enum.ToObject(typeof (TEnum), enumValue)).ToString();
            }
            return enumString;
        }

Answer 5

I am using this piece of code to cast int to my enum:

if (typeof(YourEnum).IsEnumDefined(valueToCast)) return (YourEnum)valueToCast;
else { //handle it here, if its not defined }

I find it the best solution.

Answer 6

For numeric values, this is safer as it will return an object no matter what:

public static class EnumEx
{
    static public bool TryConvert<T>(int value, out T result)
    {
        result = default(T);
        bool success = Enum.IsDefined(typeof(T), value);
        if (success)
        {
            result = (T)Enum.ToObject(typeof(T), value);
        }
        return success;
    }
}