C#•3mo ago

Enum Capabilities

Hello there! I was wondering if there is a way to return the string value (either description or name) rather than the enumeration value of an enum. Take this enum for example: public enum SourceType { SourceLink = 1, Channel = 2, Video = 3 }. When I return this model: public class Source { string Title; SourceType Type; }, I wonder if the value of the property Type can be string, the name of the enum (SourceLink, Channel or Video) or the description, rather than the integer value (1, 2, 3). Has anyone done something similar? Is that even possible?

20 Replies

333fred•3mo ago

Just call ToString() on the enum

MODiX•3mo ago

333fred

REPL Result: Success

public enum SourceType 
{ SourceLink = 1, Channel = 2, Video = 3 }
Enum.GetValues<SourceType>().Select(e => e.ToString())

public enum SourceType 
{ SourceLink = 1, Channel = 2, Video = 3 }
Enum.GetValues<SourceType>().Select(e => e.ToString())

Result: List<string>

[
  "SourceLink",
  "Channel",
  "Video"
]

[
  "SourceLink",
  "Channel",
  "Video"
]

Compile: 358.326ms | Execution: 78.940ms | React with ❌ to remove this embed.

333fred•3mo ago

However, you probably don't want the type of Source.Type to be string

Pan!cKk•3mo ago

That is when setting the value. I'm wondering if it can be a global config, like in the Startup class of a WebApi. Something automated, without having to use .ToString

333fred•3mo ago

You probably just want to call ToString() when you display

Pan!cKk•3mo ago

I return that Source model to front (react app), so I want the Type to be sent as the value of ToString, without having to make it string? Or is this whole part unnecessary?

333fred•3mo ago

Ah, you're looking to change how the type serializes?

Pan!cKk•3mo ago

ChatGPT suggested JsonConverter attribute, but I am not sure about that yes!

333fred•3mo ago

How are you sending it? Json? Or some other serialization format?

Pan!cKk•3mo ago

Yeah, it's json

333fred•3mo ago

Which json framework? System.Text.Json?

Pan!cKk•3mo ago

I believe. I do not specify anything, just return the model from the api. I believe it is System.Text I am not really familiar with the details :/ Trying to learn

MODiX•3mo ago

333fred

REPL Result: Success

using System;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text.Json;
using System.Text.Json.Serialization;

[JsonConverter(typeof(JsonStringEnumConverter<SourceType>))]
public enum SourceType 
{ SourceLink = 1, Channel = 2, Video = 3 }

Enum.GetValues<SourceType>().Select(e => JsonSerializer.Serialize(e))

using System;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text.Json;
using System.Text.Json.Serialization;

[JsonConverter(typeof(JsonStringEnumConverter<SourceType>))]
public enum SourceType 
{ SourceLink = 1, Channel = 2, Video = 3 }

Enum.GetValues<SourceType>().Select(e => JsonSerializer.Serialize(e))

Result: List<string>

[
  "\"SourceLink\"",
  "\"Channel\"",
  "\"Video\""
]

[
  "\"SourceLink\"",
  "\"Channel\"",
  "\"Video\""
]

Compile: 449.685ms | Execution: 53.823ms | React with ❌ to remove this embed.

333fred•3mo ago

Like so

Pan!cKk•3mo ago

That did not really do the work for me. But I figured out I can use StringEnumConverter (Netwonsoft.Json) and it handles it well. I can pass either the integer value or the string representation, and it knows how to parse it (on post request), and the response has the respective string representation. May I ask if that is a good approach?

builder.Services.AddControllers()
            .AddNewtonsoftJson(options =>
            {
                options.SerializerSettings.ReferenceLoopHandling = ReferenceLoopHandling.Ignore;
                options.SerializerSettings.Converters.Add(new StringEnumConverter());
            });

public enum SourceType
{
    [Description("Source Link")]
    [EnumMember(Value = "Source Link")]
    SourceLink = 1,
    [Description("Channel")]
    [EnumMember(Value = "Channel")]
    Channel = 2,
    [Description("Video")]
    [EnumMember(Value = "Video")]
    Video = 3
}

builder.Services.AddControllers()
            .AddNewtonsoftJson(options =>
            {
                options.SerializerSettings.ReferenceLoopHandling = ReferenceLoopHandling.Ignore;
                options.SerializerSettings.Converters.Add(new StringEnumConverter());
            });

public enum SourceType
{
    [Description("Source Link")]
    [EnumMember(Value = "Source Link")]
    SourceLink = 1,
    [Description("Channel")]
    [EnumMember(Value = "Channel")]
    Channel = 2,
    [Description("Video")]
    [EnumMember(Value = "Video")]
    Video = 3
}

according to chatGPT, using StringEnumConverter, the cons are:

Cons:

Increased Payload Size: String representations generally occupy more space in JSON payloads compared to integer representations, potentially increasing network bandwidth usage and storage requirements.

Performance Overhead: Converting between enum values and strings requires additional processing compared to direct integer serialization/deserialization, which may have a slight impact on performance, especially in high-throughput scenarios.

Parsing Complexity: If using custom string representations, it might introduce parsing complexities, especially when dealing with edge cases or legacy data.

Compatibility with Existing Clients: If the consumers of your JSON data are expecting integer representations of enum values, switching to string representations might require updates on their end.

Loss of Type Safety: Using string representations loses some type safety compared to using integer values, as there's no compile-time check to ensure that the provided string corresponds to a valid enum value.

Cons:

Increased Payload Size: String representations generally occupy more space in JSON payloads compared to integer representations, potentially increasing network bandwidth usage and storage requirements.

Performance Overhead: Converting between enum values and strings requires additional processing compared to direct integer serialization/deserialization, which may have a slight impact on performance, especially in high-throughput scenarios.

Parsing Complexity: If using custom string representations, it might introduce parsing complexities, especially when dealing with edge cases or legacy data.

Compatibility with Existing Clients: If the consumers of your JSON data are expecting integer representations of enum values, switching to string representations might require updates on their end.

Loss of Type Safety: Using string representations loses some type safety compared to using integer values, as there's no compile-time check to ensure that the provided string corresponds to a valid enum value.

I'm not sure if that is a huge issue for not so huge application ? @333fred sorry for the ping, but I would appreciate your opinion!

333fred•3mo ago

Hard to say whether your application will be hurt by the perf or not Then you're using newtonsoft.json, not system.text.json

Pan!cKk•3mo ago

Yes, now I am. I tried your suggestion, but it doesn't seem to do the work (at least not what I am looking for...) How may I conclude if it does or not?

333fred•3mo ago

$tias

MODiX•3mo ago

https://images-ext-1.discordapp.net/external/CO2vsU2aXbRqYy1RdewOYnkBq1nGFBjdbjlNgjvG67A/https/media.discordapp.net/attachments/364492811489509376/964064233035816990/unknown.png?width=543&height=257

Pan!cKk•3mo ago

fair thank you for your help <3

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Enum Capabilities