Convert Enum to List<> using C# or VB.NET

A user recently asked me how to convert an Enum to a List<>. Here’s the code to do so:

C#

class Program
{
    enum Days { Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri };

    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        Array arr = Enum.GetValues(typeof(Days));
        List<string> lstDays = new List<string>(arr.Length);
        for (int i = 0; i < arr.Length; i++)
        {
            lstDays.Add(arr.GetValue(i).ToString());
        }
    }
}

VB.NET

Friend Class Program
    Private Enum Days
        Sat
        Sun
        Mon
        Tue
        Wed
        Thu
        Fri
    End Enum

    Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String)
        Dim arr As Array = System.Enum.GetValues(GetType(Days))
        Dim lstDays As New List(Of String)(arr.Length)
        For i As Integer = 0 To arr.Length - 1
            lstDays.Add(arr.GetValue(i).ToString())
        Next i
    End Sub
End Class

Additionally you can also add a check to evaluate if arr.GetValue(i) is not null before adding it to the List<>

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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.

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