Get VB.net Enum Description from Value

Question

How can I get Enum description from its value?

I can get the description from the name using:

Public Shared Function GetEnumDescription(         


        

Answer 1

If you have a variable of your enum type, it's simply

GetEnumDescription(myEnum)

Minimal working example:

Enum TestEnum
    
    Value1
End Enum

Public Sub Main()
    Dim myEnum As TestEnum = TestEnum.Value1
    Console.WriteLine(GetEnumDescription(myEnum)) ' prints "Description of Value1"
    Console.ReadLine()
End Sub

---

If you have an Integer variable, you need to cast it to your enum type first (CType works as well):

GetEnumDescription(DirectCast(myEnumValue, TestEnum))

Working example:

Enum TestEnum
    
    Value1 = 1
End Enum

Public Sub Main()
    Console.WriteLine(GetEnumDescription(DirectCast(1, TestEnum)))
    Console.ReadLine()
End Sub

The source for your confusion seems to be a misunderstanding: Your method does not take the "name" of an enum as a parameter, it takes an Enum as a parameter. That's something different, and it's also the reason why your attempts to use GetName failed.