Question

I am going through some code uses the name method of a Java Enum.

Can anyone please explain to me how and where to use the name() method of Enum in java.

Answer 1

Given:

enum Direction {
  NORTH("north"), SOUTH("south"), EAST("east"), WEST("west");

  private final String printableValue;

  Direction(String printableValue) {
    this.printableValue = printableValue;
  }

  @Override
  public String toString() {
    return printableValue;
  }
}

then this code:

Direction travelDirection = Direction.NORTH;
System.out.println("I am going " + travelDirection);

will print

I am going north

but this code:

Direction travelDirection = Direction.NORTH;
System.out.println("I am going " + travelDirection.name());

will print

I am going NORTH