How can I represent an Enum in Python

Python, identified for its flexibility and readability, frequently requires builders to correspond chiseled units of values. Piece Python doesn’t person a constructed-successful Enum kind successful earlier variations, respective approaches efficaciously mimic its performance. Knowing these strategies is important for penning cleanable, maintainable, and sturdy codification. This article explores the assorted methods to correspond enums successful Python, from basal integer constants to the almighty Enum people launched successful Python three.four, providing applicable examples and champion practices for all attack.

Integer Constants

The easiest attack is utilizing integer constants. Piece casual to instrumentality, this technique lacks the expressiveness and condition of devoted enum options. It’s appropriate for tiny, elemental initiatives however tin go unwieldy arsenic the task grows.

For illustration:

Reddish = zero Greenish = 1 Bluish = 2 

This methodology is susceptible to errors arsenic location’s nary kind checking oregon prevention of duplicate values. It besides makes the codification little readable arsenic the that means of the integer values isn’t instantly evident.

The people with Constants

A somewhat improved attack includes utilizing a people with changeless attributes. This offers any flat of namespacing and improves readability. Nevertheless, it inactive doesn’t message kind condition and permits duplicate values.

Illustration:

people Colour: Reddish = zero Greenish = 1 Bluish = 1 Unintended duplication 

Piece providing a insignificant betterment complete integer constants, this methodology inactive falls abbreviated of offering the afloat advantages of a sturdy enum implementation.

The Enum People (Python three.four+)

Python three.four launched the enum module, providing a devoted Enum people. This is the beneficial attack for representing enums successful contemporary Python. It gives kind condition, prevents duplicate values, and enhances codification readability.

Illustration:

from enum import Enum people Colour(Enum): Reddish = 1 Greenish = 2 Bluish = three 

Utilizing the Enum people provides respective advantages, together with automated worth duty, iteration, examination, and drawstring cooperation. It gives a overmuch much sturdy and maintainable manner to correspond enums successful Python.

IntEnum for Integer Compatibility

If you necessitate integer compatibility, the IntEnum people from the enum module supplies the advantages of the Enum people piece permitting enums to behave similar integers. This is utile once interfacing with codification that expects integer values.

Illustration:

from enum import IntEnum people Colour(IntEnum): Reddish = 1 Greenish = 2 Bluish = three 

Utilizing IntEnum permits you to usage enum members straight successful integer contexts, making it a handy prime once backward compatibility with current codification is wanted.

Selecting the correct enum cooperation relies upon connected your task’s circumstantial wants. For contemporary Python tasks, the Enum oregon IntEnum lessons are extremely advisable. They message the champion equilibrium of performance, readability, and kind condition.

• Usage the Enum people for sturdy enum cooperation.
• Leverage IntEnum for integer compatibility.

1. Measure your task’s necessities.
2. Take the due enum methodology.
3. Instrumentality and trial your enum implementation.

For much precocious enum utilization, see exploring the authoritative Python documentation connected enums. This blanket assets supplies successful-extent explanations and precocious examples.

Seat besides this informative article connected Python Enums from Existent Python and this Stack Overflow treatment for additional insights and assemblage views.

Larn Much astir Python. Featured Snippet: The advisable attack for representing enums successful contemporary Python is the Enum people launched successful Python three.four. It presents kind condition, prevents duplicate values, and importantly improves codification readability.

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FAQ

Q: What is the chief vantage of utilizing the Enum people?

A: The Enum people supplies kind condition, prevents duplicate values, and enhances codification readability in contrast to utilizing integer constants oregon elemental courses.

By knowing the antithetic methods to correspond enums and selecting the about due technique, you tin compose cleaner, much maintainable, and much strong Python codification. Research the sources linked supra and commencement implementing enums efficaciously successful your tasks present. See exploring another precocious enum options similar Emblem and car for much specialised usage instances.

Question & Answer :

I'm chiefly a C# developer, however I'm presently running connected a task successful Python.

However tin I correspond the equal of an Enum successful Python?

Enums person been added to Python three.four arsenic described successful PEP 435. It has besides been backported to three.three, three.2, three.1, 2.7, 2.6, 2.5, and 2.four connected pypi.

For much precocious Enum strategies attempt the aenum room (2.7, three.three+, aforesaid writer arsenic enum34. Codification is not absolutely appropriate betwixt py2 and py3, e.g. you’ll demand __order__ successful python 2).

• To usage enum34, bash $ pip instal enum34
• To usage aenum, bash $ pip instal aenum

Putting in enum (nary numbers) volition instal a wholly antithetic and incompatible interpretation.

---

from enum import Enum # for enum34, oregon the stdlib interpretation # from aenum import Enum # for the aenum interpretation Carnal = Enum('Carnal', 'ant bee feline canine') Carnal.ant # returns <Carnal.ant: 1> Carnal['ant'] # returns <Carnal.ant: 1> (drawstring lookup) Carnal.ant.sanction # returns 'ant' (inverse lookup) 

oregon equivalently:

people Carnal(Enum): ant = 1 bee = 2 feline = three canine = four 

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Successful earlier variations, 1 manner of engaging in enums is:

def enum(**enums): instrument kind('Enum', (), enums) 

which is utilized similar truthful:

>>> Numbers = enum(1=1, 2=2, 3='3') >>> Numbers.1 1 >>> Numbers.2 2 >>> Numbers.3 '3' 

You tin besides easy activity computerized enumeration with thing similar this:

def enum(*sequential, **named): enums = dict(zip(sequential, scope(len(sequential))), **named) instrument kind('Enum', (), enums) 

and utilized similar truthful:

>>> Numbers = enum('ZERO', '1', '2') >>> Numbers.ZERO zero >>> Numbers.1 1 

Activity for changing the values backmost to names tin beryllium added this manner:

def enum(*sequential, **named): enums = dict(zip(sequential, scope(len(sequential))), **named) reverse = dict((worth, cardinal) for cardinal, worth successful enums.iteritems()) enums['reverse_mapping'] = reverse instrument kind('Enum', (), enums) 

This overwrites thing with that sanction, however it is utile for rendering your enums successful output. It volition propulsion a KeyError if the reverse mapping doesn’t be. With the archetypal illustration:

>>> Numbers.reverse_mapping['3'] '3' 

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If you are utilizing MyPy different manner to explicit “enums” is with typing.Literal.

For illustration:

from typing import Literal #python >=three.eight from typing_extensions import Literal #python 2.7, three.four-three.7 Carnal = Literal['ant', 'bee', 'feline', 'canine'] def hello_animal(carnal: Carnal): mark(f"hullo {carnal}") hello_animal('stone') # mistake hello_animal('bee') # passes