Java Enum with Constructor Example

Java Enum with Constructor

Many Java developers don't know that Java Enum can have a constructor to pass data while creating Enum constants. This feature allows you to associate related data together. One example of passing arguments to enum Constructor is our TrafficLight Enum where we pass the action to each Enum instance e.g. GREEN is associate with go, RED is associated with stop, and ORANGE is associated with the slow down. 

This is really useful because it provides more context and meaning to your code. If you want, you can also provide one or more constructors to your Enum as it also supports constructor overloading like normal Java classes. This is very different from the enum you have seen in C or C++, which is just a collection of fixed things without any OOP power.

Just remember that constructor in enums an only be either private or package level it can't be public or protected hence access modifier public and protected are not allowed to Enum constructor, it will result in a compile-time error.

By the way, this is not our first tutorial on Java Enum where we have explained a key feature, we have also ready covered some important features on Enum in our previous examples like Java Enum Switch Example explains that you can use enum constants inside switch block.

Similarly, Java Enum valueOf Example and Enum to String Example explain that how you can get the String representation of Enum. These short tutorials are a good way to learn some useful features of enum in Java.

Java Enum with Constructor Example

Here is a complete code example of using Constructor with Java Enum. Here is our TrafficLight constructor accepts a String argument which is saved to action field which is later accessed by getter method getAction().

As I explained, we have an Enum TrafficSignal, which has three enum constants, RET, GREEN, and ORANGE, and we have associated, wait, go and slow down with them by passing values into the constructor. You can also see these free Java Programming courses to learn more about enum in Java. 

/**
 * Java enum with the constructor for example.
 * Constructor accepts one String argument action
 */
public enum TrafficSignal{
    //this will call enum constructor with one String argument
    RED("wait"), GREEN("go"), ORANGE("slow down");
 
    private String action;
 
    public String getAction(){
        return this.action;
    }
 
    // enum constructor - can not be public or protected
    TrafficSignal(String action){
        this.action = action;
    }
}

/**
 *
 * Java Enum example with the constructor.
 * Java Enum can have a constructor but it can not
 * be public or protected
 *
 * @author http://java67.com
 */
public class EnumConstructorExample{

    public static void main(String args[]) {
     
      //let's print name of each enum and there action
      // - Enum values() examples
      TrafficSignal[] signals = TrafficSignal.values();
   
      for(TrafficSignal signal : signals){
          //Java name example - Java getter method example
          System.out.println("name : "
                             + signal.name()
                             + " action: "
                             + signal.getAction());
      }
   
    }
 
}

This was our Java Enum example with Constructor. Now, you know that Enum can have a constructor in Java that can be used to pass data to Enum constants, just like we passed action here. Though Enum constructor cannot be protected or public, it can either have private or default modifier only.

Further Learning
In-depth Guide of Enum in Java
10 Things Java Programmers Should Learn in 2020
How to become a better Java developer

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