Enums and Custom Attributes

A few projects ago, while working with Greg Martin, I discovered the benefit of using custom attributes with enums. It is a great way to empower your enums to replace custom logic in your applications. Since then, I have been on a bit of a attribute rampage, and I swear it has simplified many complex scenarios, and reduced the amount of custom code I would normally write.

Here are the bits, and please excuse my cheesy example, or just make fun of it.

I use an interface which my custom attributes derive from, in addition to deriving from System.Attribute. The interface merely enforces a property named Value to be defined. The interface is used in a later static method, as you will see.

I create a custom attribute deriving from System.Attribute and my interface.

I add my custom attribute to a targeted enum.



I use a static generic method to retrieve the custom attribute value for a given enum value.



I retrieve my attribute value in code with a simple "one-liner".



When I see another need for a custom attribute and I already have a solid pattern in place. Just add a new attribute class, modify my enum, and off I go.

In my applications, I continue to find more and more ways to use attributes and enums together. Hope you find this useful as well.