Enums in APEX
Chapter Topics
- Apex Data Types
- Integer Data Type in APEX
- Floating Point Data Type in APEX
- String Data Type in APEX
- Date Datatypes in APEX
- Time and DateTime Data Types in APEX
- Boolean Datatype in Salesforce
- ID & Blob Datatypes in APEX
- What is the Rule of Conversions in Apex?
- Enums in APEX
- sObjects in Salesforce
- Generic sObjects in Salesforce
- Collections in APEX
- Lists in APEX
- List Array Notation in APEX
- Lists Initialization in APEX
- Nested Lists in APEX
- Sets in APEX
- Sets Initialization And Methods
- Maps in APEX
- Map Initialization Methods in APEX
- Operators in Apex and Their Types Guide
- Shorthand Operator
- Equality Operator
- Relational Operators(<,>,<=,>=)
Enums in Apex are a unique construct for defining a collection of constants. It is an abstract data type with values that each take exactly one value from the finite set of identifiers you specify.
It provides a clear and concise way to represent a fixed set of values. Using enums can make your Apex code more readable and maintainable. They also ensure values are restricted to predefined options, reducing errors and simplifying code decision-making.
How to Define an Enum?
Enums in Apex are defined using the enum keyword. An enum is a particular data type that enables a variable to be a set of predefined constants. The syntax for defining an enum is straightforward:
public enum Season {
WINTER,
SPRING,
SUMMER,
FALL
}
Enum Methods
You can create your enum or use one of the built-in enums that Apex provides, such as LoggingLevel. User-defined methods cannot be added to Apex enums. Only the built-in standard methods (values(), valueOf(), name(), ordinal()) are available.
All Apex enums, whether user-defined or built-in (such as LoggingLevel), support the following standard enum methods in Apex:
| S.No | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | values This method returns the values of the Enum as a list of the same Enum type. |
List |
| 2 | valueOf(string enumStr) This method converts a specified string to an enum constant value. An exception is thrown if the input string doesn’t match an enum value. |
Season season = Season.valueOf('SUMMER'); |
| 3 | name Returns the name of the Enum item as a String. |
String seasonName = Season.SUMMER.name(); |
| 4 | ordinal Returns the position of the item, as an Integer, in the list of Enum values starting with zero. |
Integer position = Season.SUMMER.ordinal(); |
Need more support?
Get a head start with our FREE study notes!
Learn more and get all the answers you need at zero cost. Improve your skills using our detailed notes prepared by industry experts to help you excel.
