How to get all values of an enum?

Question

I want to create a method that takes in an Enum type, and returns all it's members in an array, How to create such a function?

Take for example, I have these two enums:

public enum Family
{ 
   Brother,
   Sister,
   Father
}

public enum CarType
{ 
   Volkswagen,
   Ferrari,
   BMW
}

How to create a function GetEnumList so that it returns

{Family.Brother, Family.Sister, Family.Father} for the first case.
{CarType.Volkswagen, CarType.Ferrari, CarType.BMW} for the second case.

I tried :

private static List<T> GetEnumList<T>()
{
    var enumList = Enum.GetValues(typeof(T))
        .Cast<T>().ToList();
    return enumList;
}

But I got an InvalidOperationException:

System.InvalidOperationException : Late bound operations cannot be performed on types or methods for which ContainsGenericParameters is true. at System.Reflection.RuntimeMethodInfo.ThrowNoInvokeException() at System.Reflection.RuntimeMethodInfo.Invoke(Object obj, BindingFlags invokeAttr, Binder binder, Object[] parameters, CultureInfo culture, Boolean skipVisibilityChecks) at System.Reflection.RuntimeMethodInfo.Invoke(Object obj, BindingFlags invokeAttr, Binder binder, Object[] parameters, CultureInfo culture) at System.Reflection.MethodBase.Invoke(Object obj, Object[] parameters)

Edit: The above code is working fine-- the reason I got an exception was because profiler caused me the bug. Thank you all for your solutions.

Yes, it's working fine-- I found that my profiler actually cause me a bug and hence results in the exception. — Graviton
– Graviton, Commented Apr 29, 2009 at 6:08

Homes2001 · Accepted Answer · 2009-04-29 05:57:53Z

30

Here is the full code:

    public enum Family
    {
        Brother,
        Sister,
        Father
    }

    public enum CarType
    {
        Volkswagen,
        Ferrari,
        BMW
    }


    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(GetEnumList<Family>());
        Console.WriteLine(GetEnumList<Family>().First());
        Console.ReadKey();
    }

    private static List<T> GetEnumList<T>()
    {
        T[] array = (T[])Enum.GetValues(typeof(T));
        List<T> list = new List<T>(array);
        return list;
    }

answered Apr 29, 2009 at 5:57

Homes2001

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1 Comment

zokaee hamid Over a year ago

What is the difference between the following: (1)Enum.GetValues (typeof (theEnum)); // returns the pure enumeration defined in Enum (2)int i = (int) theEnum.item; // Indicator number from zero if not set and if they are set their value---- (3)Enum.GetNames (typeof (theEnum)); // Enumeration name returns as string

rory.ap · Accepted Answer · 2019-08-19 17:16:10Z

22

Same as the other answer but updated for modern C#:

public static List<TEnum> GetEnumList<TEnum>() where TEnum : Enum 
    => ((TEnum[])Enum.GetValues(typeof(TEnum))).ToList();

edited Aug 19, 2019 at 17:16

answered Aug 19, 2019 at 11:51

rory.ap

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1 Comment

Gert Arnold Over a year ago

"Modern" is very short-lived. .Net core 5 has Enum.GetValues<TEnum>().

Homes2001 · Accepted Answer · 2009-04-29 05:55:20Z

16

(Family[])Enum.GetValues(typeof(Family))

answered Apr 29, 2009 at 5:55

Homes2001

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1 Comment

Graviton Over a year ago

Thanks, but I want a general method that takes in enum type and return the respective list-- but a specific cast function.

JP Alioto · Accepted Answer · 2009-04-29 06:07:06Z

8

Like this?

private static List<string> GetEnumList<T>()
{
    return Enum.GetNames( typeof( T ) )
           .Select(s => typeof(T).Name + "." + s).ToList();
}

answered Apr 29, 2009 at 6:07

JP Alioto

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Comments

ctyar · Accepted Answer · 2024-01-18 16:07:58Z

3

Since .NET 5 you can do this:

public static T[] GetAll<T>() where T : struct, Enum
{
    return Enum.GetValues<T>();
}

answered Jan 18, 2024 at 16:07

ctyar

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