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An enum type, short for enumeration type, is a distinct data type that consists of a set of named values, also known as enumerators. These enumerators represent discrete, symbolic constants. In programming, enum types provide a way to define a variable that can only take on one of a predefined set of values, making the code more readable and less prone to errors compared to using raw integers or strings for such purposes.

When an enum type is declared, a specific name is given to the type itself, and then a list of identifiers (the enumerators) is provided. For instance, a programming language might allow the definition of an `enum Color { RED, GREEN, BLUE }`. In this case, `Color` is the enum type, and `RED`, `GREEN`, and `BLUE` are its enumerators. A variable declared as type `Color` could then be assigned any of these three values, and no other.

The underlying representation of enum values is often an integer, though this is typically an implementation detail hidden from the programmer. Different programming languages may offer variations in how enums are implemented and used. Some languages allow enums to have associated values, while others might support bitwise operations on enum members if they are designed as flags. The primary benefit of using enums lies in improving code clarity and safety by explicitly defining a limited set of valid options for a variable.