How do I create enumerated types in MATLAB?

Question

Are there enumerated types in MATLAB? If not, what are the alternatives?

Answer 1

You can get some of the functionality with new-style MATLAB classes:

classdef (Sealed) Colors
    properties (Constant)
        RED = 1;
        GREEN = 2;
        BLUE = 3;
    end

    methods (Access = private)    % private so that you cant instantiate
        function out = Colors
        end
    end
end

This isn't really a type, but since MATLAB is loosely typed, if you use integers, you can do things that approximate it:

line1 = Colors.RED;
...
if Colors.BLUE == line1
end

In this case, MATLAB "enums" are close to C-style enums - substitute syntax for integers.

With the careful use of static methods, you can even make MATLAB enums approach Ada's in sophistication, but unfortunately with clumsier syntax.