Java enum - why use toString instead of name

Question

If you look in the enum api at the method name() it says that:

Returns the name of this enum constant, exactly as declared in its enum declaration.

Answer 1

Use name() when you want to make a comparison or use the hardcoded value for some internal use in your code.

Use toString() when you want to present information to a user (including a developper looking at a log). Never rely in your code on toString() giving a specific value. Never test it against a specific string. If your code breaks when someone correctly changes the toString() return, then it was already broken.

From the javadoc (emphasis mine) :

Returns a string representation of the object. In general, the toString method returns a string that "textually represents" this object. The result should be a concise but informative representation that is easy for a person to read. It is recommended that all subclasses override this method.