How to Bind an ASP.NET DropDownList to an Enumeration with two lines of code

I have seen users writing number of lines of code to do a simple thing as binding an Enumeration to an ASP.NET DropDownList or ListBox. Here's how to do this with just two lines of code

<asp:DropDownList ID="DropDownList1" runat="server">
</asp:DropDownList>

<asp:ListBox ID="ListBox1" runat="server"></asp:ListBox>

C#

enum Speed
{
    Low = 1,
    Medium = 2,
    High = 3
}
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    DropDownList1.DataSource = Enum.GetValues(typeof(Speed));
    DropDownList1.DataBind();

    ListBox1.DataSource = Enum.GetValues(typeof(Speed));
    ListBox1.DataBind();
}

VB.NET

Friend Enum Speed
    Low = 1
    Medium = 2
    High = 3
End Enum

Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
    DropDownList1.DataSource = System.Enum.GetValues(GetType(Speed))
    DropDownList1.DataBind()

    ListBox1.DataSource = System.Enum.GetValues(GetType(Speed))
    ListBox1.DataBind()
End Sub

OUTPUT

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About The Author

Suprotim Agarwal, ASP.NET Architecture MVP works as an Architect Consultant and provides consultancy on how to design and develop Web applications.

Suprotim is also the founder and primary contributor to DevCurry, DotNetCurry and SQLServerCurry. He has also written an EBook 51 Recipes using jQuery with ASP.NET Controls.

Follow him on twitter @suprotimagarwal