How to use values() and valueOf() Methods for Java enum

Description

All enumerations automatically contain two predefined methods: values() and valueOf().

Syntax

Their general forms are:

public static enum-type[ ] values() 
public static enum-type valueOf(String str)

The values() method returns an array that contains a list of the enumeration constants. The valueOf() method returns the enumeration constant whose value corresponds to the string passed in str.

Example

The following program demonstrates the values() and valueOf() methods:

enum Direction {/*w  ww . j a  v a2  s  .  c o  m*/
  East, South, West, North
}

public class Main {
  public static void main(String args[]) {
    Direction all[] = Direction.values();
    for (Direction a : all){
      System.out.println(a);
    }
    System.out.println();

    Direction dir = Direction.valueOf("South");
    System.out.println(dir);
  }
}

The code above generates the following result.