Getting the max value of an enum

Question

How do you get the max value of an enum?

Answer 1

It is not usable in all circumstances, but I often define the max value myself:

enum Values {
  one,
  two,
  tree,
  End,
}

for (Values i = 0; i < Values.End; i++) {
  Console.WriteLine(i);
}

var random = new Random();
Console.WriteLine(random.Next((int)Values.End));

Of course this won't work when you use custom values in an enum, but often it can be an easy solution.

Answer 2

In F#, with a helper function to convert the enum to a sequence:

type Foo =
    | Fizz  = 3
    | Bang  = 2

// Helper function to convert enum to a sequence. This is also useful for iterating.
// stackoverflow.com/questions/972307/can-you-loop-through-all-enum-values-c
let ToSeq (a : 'A when 'A : enum<'B>) =
    Enum.GetValues(typeof<'A>).Cast<'B>()

// Get the max of Foo
let FooMax = ToSeq (Foo()) |> Seq.max   

Running it...

> type Foo = | Fizz = 3 | Bang = 2
> val ToSeq : 'A -> seq<'B> when 'A : enum<'B>
> val FooMax : Foo = Fizz

The when 'A : enum<'B> is not required by the compiler for the definition, but is required for any use of ToSeq, even by a valid enum type.

Answer 3

According to Matt Hamilton's answer, I thought on creating an Extension method for it.

Since ValueType is not accepted as a generic type parameter constraint, I didn't find a better way to restrict T to Enum but the following.

Any ideas would be really appreciated.

PS. please ignore my VB implicitness, I love using VB in this way, that's the strength of VB and that's why I love VB.

Howeva, here it is:

C#:

static void Main(string[] args)
{
    MyEnum x = GetMaxValue<MyEnum>(); //In newer versions of C# (7.3+)
    MyEnum y = GetMaxValueOld<MyEnum>();  
}

public static TEnum GetMaxValue<TEnum>()
  where TEnum : Enum
{
     return Enum.GetValues(typeof(TEnum)).Cast<TEnum>().Max();
}

//When C# version is smaller than 7.3, use this:
public static TEnum GetMaxValueOld<TEnum>()
  where TEnum : IComparable, IConvertible, IFormattable
{
    Type type = typeof(TEnum);

    if (!type.IsSubclassOf(typeof(Enum)))
        throw new
            InvalidCastException
                ("Cannot cast '" + type.FullName + "' to System.Enum.");

    return (TEnum)Enum.ToObject(type, Enum.GetValues(type).Cast<int>().Last());
}



enum MyEnum
{
    ValueOne,
    ValueTwo
}

VB:

Public Function GetMaxValue _
    (Of TEnum As {IComparable, IConvertible, IFormattable})() As TEnum

    Dim type = GetType(TEnum)

    If Not type.IsSubclassOf(GetType([Enum])) Then _
        Throw New InvalidCastException _
            ("Cannot cast '" & type.FullName & "' to System.Enum.")

    Return [Enum].ToObject(type, [Enum].GetValues(type) _
                        .Cast(Of Integer).Last)
End Function

Answer 4

After tried another time, I got this extension method:

public static class EnumExtension
{
    public static int Max(this Enum enumType)
    {           
        return Enum.GetValues(enumType.GetType()).Cast<int>().Max();             
    }
}

class Program
{
    enum enum1 { one, two, second, third };
    enum enum2 { s1 = 10, s2 = 8, s3, s4 };
    enum enum3 { f1 = -1, f2 = 3, f3 = -3, f4 };

    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(enum1.one.Max());        
    }
}

Answer 5

Use the Last function could not get the max value. Use the "max" function could. Like:

 class Program
    {
        enum enum1 { one, two, second, third };
        enum enum2 { s1 = 10, s2 = 8, s3, s4 };
        enum enum3 { f1 = -1, f2 = 3, f3 = -3, f4 };

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            TestMaxEnumValue(typeof(enum1));
            TestMaxEnumValue(typeof(enum2));
            TestMaxEnumValue(typeof(enum3));
        }

        static void TestMaxEnumValue(Type enumType)
        {
            Enum.GetValues(enumType).Cast<Int32>().ToList().ForEach(item =>
                Console.WriteLine(item.ToString()));

            int maxValue = Enum.GetValues(enumType).Cast<int>().Max();     
            Console.WriteLine("The max value of {0} is {1}", enumType.Name, maxValue);
        }
    }

Answer 6

I agree with Matt's answer. If you need just min and max int values, then you can do it as follows.

Maximum:

Enum.GetValues(typeof(Foo)).Cast<int>().Max();

Minimum:

Enum.GetValues(typeof(Foo)).Cast<int>().Min();