Test if an object is an Enum

Question

I would like to know if 'theObject' is an enum (of any enum type)

 foreach (var item in Enum.GetValues(theObject.GetType())) {

     //do something
 }

score 229 · Accepted Answer · answered May 27 '10 at 06:04

229

The question is the answer. :)

bool isEnum = theObject is Enum;

answered May 27 '10 at 06:04

EMP

15

Love it! And even closer to the question: if (theObject is Enum) {...} – Peter Lillevold May 27 '10 at 09:55
6

This isn't even what I came here for and I'm giving you a point. It's so... clean... , it's beautiful man T.T – Lukas Nov 27 '12 at 00:47
13

/*Test*/ if (anObject is /*an*/ Enum) {} – Tom Fobear Jun 27 '14 at 21:19
1

bool isEnum = theObject.GetType().IsEnum; is better, is Enum doesn't always return true – chris hu Jan 10 '20 at 21:58
1

@chrishu could you specify in which cases this answer would not work? Otherwise this comment is not helping – Noman_1 Jun 21 '22 at 08:00

score 75 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 10 '20 at 23:31

75

If you have a Type, use the Type.IsEnum property, e.g.:

bool isEnum = theObject.GetType().IsEnum;

edited Feb 10 '20 at 23:31

John Cummings

answered May 27 '10 at 06:00

Chris Schmich

2

This worked for me. I couldn't figure out how to make the accepted answer work in VB.NET. – Shea Daniels Feb 22 '11 at 15:01
4

I actually needed to know how to check for a `Type` being an Enum type. +1 – Nathan Sep 30 '11 at 15:36

score 10 · Answer 3 · answered May 27 '10 at 06:08

10

just use

if (theObject is Enum)
 //is an enum

answered May 27 '10 at 06:08

Laramie

score 6 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 18 '20 at 20:06

6

For generic type parameters, the parameter can be constrained rather than tested:

where T : Enum

answered Mar 18 '20 at 20:06

bugged87

C# 7.3! that's a really good reason to update C# version :) project properties->build->Advanced – ephraim Oct 25 '21 at 09:52

4 Answers4