Aren't enum in C++ just integers?

Question

I always thought that in C++, as well as in C, enum are just integers. But today I got this "invalid conversion from int to E":

enum E {
    FIRST = 0b01,
    SECOND = 0b10,
    THIRD = FIRST | SECOND  // this is fine
};

int main()
{
    E first = FIRST;
    E third = FIRST | SECOND; // this is NOT fine

    return 0;
}

You thought wrong. Enums aren't _"just integers"_ in c++, but keep their type. — πάντα ῥεῖ, Feb 01 '19 at 17:32

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 01 '19 at 17:32

0

You should cast it cause it has type int so This should achieve your goal

E first = FIRST;
E third = static_cast<E>(FIRST | SECOND);

answered Feb 01 '19 at 17:32

Spinkoo

2,080
1
7
23

_@Spinkoo_ Sure this would really help? I am not so ... – πάντα ῥεῖ Feb 01 '19 at 17:37
This was a small example, I have many logical bitwise operations to make and currently I do not see the value in using `enum` in first place if they behave this way. Better to put constants in a namespace I would say. – nyarlathotep108 Feb 01 '19 at 17:37
@nyarlathotep108 In the answers of the marked duplicate there are several approaches how you could deal with that situation. – πάντα ῥεῖ Feb 01 '19 at 17:38

Aren't enum in C++ just integers?

1 Answers1