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silambarasan rajendran
silambarasan rajendran

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day-30: enumeration in java

What is enumeration?
An enum type is a special data type that enables for a variable to be a set of predefined constants. The variable must be equal to one of the values that have been predefined for it.

In programming, an "enum type" (or enumeration) is a data type that consists of a set of named constants, allowing you to represent a fixed set of values, such as days of the week or colors.

What it is:
Fixed Set of Values: Enums define a specific, limited set of possible values for a variable.
Named Constants: Each value in the enum is represented by a named constant, making the code more readable and maintainable.
Type Safety: Enums provide type safety, ensuring that a variable can only hold one of the defined enum values, preventing errors.

Examples:
Days of the Week: enum Day { SUNDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY }
Compass Directions: enum Direction { NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST }
Color: enum Color { RED, GREEN, BLUE }
Status: enum Status { ACTIVE, INACTIVE, PENDING }

How it's used:

Readability:
Enums make code easier to understand by using meaningful names instead of raw numerical values.
Maintainability:
When the set of possible values changes, you only need to modify the enum definition, not multiple places in the code.
Error Prevention:
Enums help prevent errors by ensuring that a variable can only hold one of the predefined values.
Type Safety:
Enums enforce type safety, ensuring that variables of an enum type can only hold values of that enum type. 
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In Different Programming Languages:

Java: public enum Day { SUNDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY }
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payilagam_135383b867ea296 profile image
Payilagam

For the last part, I could see only Java under 'In Different Languages'. Is there any continuity planned?