C# Enums returning int value

Question

I have a class called Questions, in this class is an enum called question which looks like this.

    public enum Question
{
    Role = 2,
    ProjectFunding = 3,
    TotalEmployee = 4,
    NumberOfServers = 5,
    TopBusinessConcern = 6,
}

In the Question class I have a get(int foo) function that returns a Question object for that foo. Is there an easy way to get the integer value off the enum so I can do something like this Questions.Get(Question.Role)?

Answer 1

Question question = Question.Role;
int value = (int) question;

Will result in value == 2.

Answer 2

Just cast the enum eg.

int something = (int)Question.Role;

Answer 3

It's easier than you think - your enum is already an int. It just needs to be reminded:

int y = (int)Question.Role;
Console.WriteLine(y); // prints 2

EDIT: Every enumeration type has an underlying type, which can be any integral type except char.

Answer 4

Example

Public Enum EmpNo
{
Raj=1
Rahul,
Priyanka
}

And in the code behind to get enum value

int setempNo=(int)EmpNo.Raj; //this will give setempNo=1

or

int setempNo=(int)EmpNo.Rahul; //this will give setempNo=2

Enums will increment by 1; you can set the start value. else it will be assigned as 0 initially.

Answer 5

Since Enums can be any integral type (short, byte, int ...etc), a more robust way to get the underlying integral value of the enum would be to make use of the GetTypeCode method in conjunction with the Convert class

enum Sides {
     Left, Right, Top, Bottom
}
Sides side = Sides.Bottom;

var val = Convert.ChangeType(side, side.GetTypeCode()) ;
Console.WriteLine(val);

This should work regardless of the underlying integral type type.