Question

I must structure new model for application and I don’t what is better:

using inheritance or using enum as type of object:

For example :

Books

class Book
{
public string Name {get;set;}

public string Author {get;set;}

public int NumberOfPages {get;set;}

}

public class Encyclopedie:Book
{

}

public class Novel:Book
{

}

or better use:

class Book
{

public BookType Type {get;set;}

public string Name {get;set;}

public string Author {get;set;}

public int NumberOfPages {get;set;}

}

public enum BookType
{
Encyclopedie = 0,
Novel = 1,
...
}

Answer 1

Use inheritance if the different types have significant differences (how you process them and treat them). That is, if you are going to use polymorphism at all, you should use inheritance.

If you only need a way to distinguish different types of books, go with the Enum.