Java: Retrieve Enum Value from String with Ease

Introduction

When working with Java enums, there may be times when you need to retrieve the enum value from a string. This can be a bit tricky, but with the right approach, it can be done with ease. In this article, we will explore how to retrieve enum values from strings in Java.

The Solution

To retrieve an enum value from a string in Java, you can use the Enum.valueOf() method. This method takes two arguments: the class of the enum and the string value you want to retrieve.

Let's say you have an enum class called Color that has the following values: RED, GREEN, and BLUE. To retrieve the Color enum value from a string, you can use the following code:

String colorString = "RED";
Color color = Enum.valueOf(Color.class, colorString);

In this example, the valueOf() method takes the Color.class argument, which specifies the class of the enum, and the colorString argument, which specifies the string value you want to retrieve. The method returns the corresponding enum value.

If the string you pass to the valueOf() method does not match any of the enum values, a IllegalArgumentException will be thrown. To avoid this, you can use a try-catch block to handle the exception:

String colorString = "YELLOW";
try {
    Color color = Enum.valueOf(Color.class, colorString);
} catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
    // handle exception
}

Conclusion

Retrieving enum values from strings in Java can be done with ease using the Enum.valueOf() method. By following the approach outlined in this article, you can ensure that your code is robust and handles any exceptions that may occur.