NamingEnumerationNameClassPair

Naming enumerations is the practice of selecting names for enum types and their members to improve readability and consistency in code bases.

Enum type names are typically singular nouns or adjectives and use PascalCase, such as Color, Status, or Permission. This convention helps convey that the type represents a category with a finite set of values. Avoid overly generic names and keep the name descriptive of its domain.

Enum members are named according to the conventions of the language. In Java, constants inside enums are usually written in all caps with underscores, e.g., RED, GREEN, BLUE. In C# and Kotlin, members commonly use PascalCase: Red, Green, Blue. In Python, members are typically uppercase with underscores: RED, GREEN, BLUE. When a language or project provides a standard, follow it; otherwise maintain a consistent style and avoid prefixing member names with the enum type.

Guidelines for consistent naming include being descriptive and concise, preferring names that map to domain concepts, not prefixing member names with the enum type, and maintaining a single naming style per project across all enums.

Examples

Java: enum Color { RED, GREEN, BLUE }

C#: enum Color { Red, Green, Blue }

Python:

from enum import Enum

class Color(Enum):

RED = 1

GREEN = 2

BLUE = 3