When to use Enum or Collection in Java

Question

Under what circumstances is an enum more appropriate than, for example, a Collection that guarantees unique elements (an implementer of java.util.Set, I guess...)?

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Answer 1

Basically when it's a well-defined, fixed set of values which are known at compile-time.

You can use an enum as a set very easily (with EnumSet) and it allows you to define behaviour, reference the elements by name, switch on them etc.