`Enum.Format`

This C# method changes enums to strings. It produces hexadecimal, digit and string values from an enumerated constant.

The Enum.Format method uses format strings for this. Lowercase and uppercase make no difference. A single-char string argument can be passed to Enum.Format.

To begin, this program uses all 8 different formatting strings accepted by Enum.Format. We use a sample enum to demonstrate as well. The output shows the exact results of these formats.

Info The constants "G", "g", "F", and "f" all output the name of the enumerated constant as a string.

Detail The constants "X", "x", "D", and "d" output the value of the enum in hexadecimal or digit format.

Detail The typeof operator can be passed as the second argument to Enum.Format.

using System;

class Program
{
    enum Importance
    {
        Low,
        Medium,
        Critical
    }

    static void Main()
    {
        M("G");
        M("g");
        M("X");
        M("x");
        M("F");
        M("f");
        M("D");
        M("d");
    }

    static void M(string format)
    {
        // Use Enum.Format with the specified format string.
        string value = Enum.Format(typeof(Importance), Importance.Critical, format);
        Console.WriteLine("{0} = {1}", format, value);
    }
}G = Critical
g = Critical
X = 00000002
x = 00000002
F = Critical
f = Critical
D = 2
d = 2

Usage notes

What is the use of the Enum.Format method in a real program? It provides a standardized way to produce a string that represents either the name or the value of an enum type.

Tip You could do this by casting to the underlying type and then using ToString, but Format is another alternative.

Detail The Enum.Format method is not needed but could provide a useful bit of functionality for some programs.

Enum.Format produces a string representation in a standardized format from an enumerated constant. It provides an alternative to the ToString method and casting.