How to iterate all enum values in Csharp Examples

How to iterate all enum values in Csharp Examples

Enum is a custom class that contains a group of constants. Each Enum object holds constants.

This tutorial explains Multiple ways to iterate Enum constants in C#

One way, using the GetValues method from the System.Enum class to get all values in array form. Order is of Enum declaration order. Another way using a Simple for loop with initialized start and end value syntax.

How to iterate all Enum values in C# with an example

Let’s Define enum constants.

public enum DAYS : int{
    Monday = 1,
    Tuesday = 2,
    Wednesday = 3,
    Thursday = 4,
    Friday = 5,
    Saturday = 6,
    Sunday = 7,
}

There are multiple ways using System.Enum.GetValues method:

System.Enum class provides the GetValues and GetNames Method, which returns an array of Enum constants.

  • GetValues - return Array of Objects
  • GetNames - Return Array of Strings

For .NET 5 users, use generics

var enums = Enum.GetValues<DAYS>(); // Array of Objects
var values = Enum.GetNames<DAYS>(); //Array of Strings

For .NET 4 users, Syntax is to use typeof for an Enum class.

DAYS[] values= Enum.GetValues(typeof(DAYS))

Once you have an Array of Enum objects, You can iterate using a foreach loop to retrieve Enum and values

   foreach (int value in Enum.GetValues(typeof(DAYS)))
    {
        Console.WriteLine(((int)(DAYS)value)+" - "+((DAYS)value).ToString());
    }

Here is a complete example

using System;

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {

    foreach (int value in Enum.GetValues(typeof(DAYS)))
    {
        Console.WriteLine(((int)(DAYS)value)+" - "+((DAYS)value).ToString());
    }

    }
}

public enum DAYS : int
{
    Monday = 1,
    Tuesday = 2,
    Wednesday = 3,
    Thursday = 4,
    Friday = 5,
    Saturday = 6,
    Sunday = 7,
}

Output:

1 - Monday
2 - Tuesday
3 - Wednesday
4 - Thursday
5 - Friday
6 - Saturday
7 - Sunday

Another way using for loop with start and end value:

using simple for loop, Initialze start value (DAYS.Monday), increment, do iteration until end value(DAYS.Sunday) meet.

using System;

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
    for (var i = DAYS.Monday; i <= DAYS.Sunday; i++)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(i);
    }
    }
}

public enum DAYS : int
{
    Monday = 1,
    Tuesday = 2,
    Wednesday = 3,
    Thursday = 4,
    Friday = 5,
    Saturday = 6,
    Sunday = 7,
}

Output:

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday