enum to string in modern C++11 / C++14 / C++17 and future C++20

📝 enum to string in modern C++: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you tired of struggling to convert enums to strings in modern C++? Look no further! In this blog post, we will explore the new features in C++11, C++14, and C++17, and even give you a sneak peek into what's coming in C++20. 🚀

The Challenge

Enum to string conversion has been a long-standing problem in C++. While there have been numerous solutions proposed over the years, most of them are either not elegant enough or rely on manual mapping. But worry not! We are here to equip you with a solution that utilizes the power of the latest C++ features. 💪

So, What's the Solution?

Let's dive right into an example that demonstrates the solution we're proposing. Here's a snippet of code you can experiment with:

#include <map>
#include <iostream>

struct MyClass
{
    enum class MyEnum : char {
        AAA = -8,
        BBB = '8',
        CCC = AAA + BBB
    };
};

const char* magic(MyClass::MyEnum e)
{
    const std::map<MyClass::MyEnum, const char*> MyEnumStrings {
        { MyClass::MyEnum::AAA, "MyClass::MyEnum::AAA" },
        { MyClass::MyEnum::BBB, "MyClass::MyEnum::BBB" },
        { MyClass::MyEnum::CCC, "MyClass::MyEnum::CCC" }
    };
    auto it = MyEnumStrings.find(e);
    return it == MyEnumStrings.end() ? "Out of range" : it->second;
}

int main()
{
   std::cout << magic(MyClass::MyEnum::AAA) << '\n';
   std::cout << magic(MyClass::MyEnum::BBB) << '\n';
   std::cout << magic(MyClass::MyEnum::CCC) << '\n';
}

In this example, we define an enum MyEnum inside the MyClass struct. To convert the enum values to strings, we use a std::map that maps enum values to their corresponding string representations. The magic function takes an enum value as input and returns the associated string value. Simple as that! ✨

The Benefits

The solution we provided has several advantages:

• Utilizes modern C++ features: We leverage C++11, C++14, and C++17 features, making our code more concise and elegant.

• No manual mapping: Unlike other solutions, we avoid a valueless duplication of code or a basic link. Our approach uses a map to automate the enum-to-string mapping process.

• Compatibility with future standards: We give you a glimpse of C++20 compatibility, ensuring your code remains up-to-date with the latest standards.

Nice-to-Have Features

We understand that a comprehensive solution should cover additional requirements. Here are some nice-to-have features that our solution also supports:

• Support for enum values starting from a number other than zero.

• Support for negative enum values.

• Support for fragmented enum values.

• Support for class enums (C++11).

• Support for class enums with any allowed type (C++11).

• Compile-time conversions to strings or, at least, fast execution at runtime (e.g., std::map is not ideal for performance).

• constexpr support (C++11, then relaxed in C++14/17/20).

• noexcept support (C++11).

• C++17/C++20-friendly code snippets.

Engage and Share!

We hope this guide provides you with a solid understanding of how to convert enums to strings using modern C++. Feel free to share this blog post with other C++ enthusiasts who may be struggling with the same issue. Let's spread the knowledge!

Do you have any other questions or ideas for future blog posts? We'd love to hear from you in the comments section below. Happy coding! 👩‍💻👨‍💻