enum Values to NSString (iOS)

Question

I have an enum holding several values:

enum {value1, value2, value3} myValue;

In a certain point in my app, I wish to check which value of

Answer 1

Suppose requirement is to enumerate list of languages.

Add this to .h file

typedef NS_ENUM(NSInteger, AvailableLanguage) {
  ENGLISH,
  GERMAN,
  CHINENSE
};

Now, in .m file simply create an array like,

// Try to use the same naming convention throughout. 
// That is, adding ToString after NS_ENUM name;

NSString* const AvailableLanguageToString[] = {
  [ENGLISH] = @"English",
  [GERMAN]  = @"German",
  [CHINESE] = @"Chinese"
};

Thats it. Now you can use enum with easy and get string for enums using array. For example,

- (void) setPreferredLanguage:(AvailableLanguage)language {
  // this will get the NSString* for the language.
  self.preferredLanguage = AvailableLanguageToString[language];
}

Thus, this pattern depends on accepted naming convention of NS_ENUM and companion ToString array. Try to follow this convention through out and it will become natural.