Overloading ToString Method of Enum

Hello All,

The general scenario for using enum is to provide a way to restrict a variable to one of a fixed set of values.

Now at the same time we need the string value of enum, and by default we get what we right as the name of enum, like I created following enum

public enum Operation
{
    ChangePassword,
    EditProfile,
    SearchResult,
    Search
}

Now when I try to call ToString method will show the name of enum.

Operation operation = Operation.ChangePassword;
Console.Write(operation.ToString());

//It will show you
//ChangePassword

Now what if I want to show Change Password insted of ChangePassword?

We can do it by Extension methods which are introduced in C# 3.0, I created following Extension method which operates on my Operation enum. Here is the method.

public static string EnumToString(this Operation operation)
{
    switch (operation)
    {
        case Operation.ChangePassword:
            return "Change Password";
        case Operation.EditProfile:
            return "Edit Profile";
        case Operation.SearchResultL:
            return "Search Result";
        default :
            return operation.ToString();
    }
}

You see the switch case? I write the case for value which needs to show differently then name.

Operation operation = Operation.ChangePassword;
Console.Write(operation.EnumToString());

//this will show you what you needed
//Change Password