How to Get the Value of an Enum Member by Its String Name in Python

Learn how to retrieve the value of an enum member using its string name in Python, leveraging the capabilities of the Enum class.
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Enumerations, or enums, in Python are powerful constructs that allow you to define symbolic names for discrete sets of values. They are particularly useful for improving code readability and maintainability. If you're working with enums and need to retrieve the value of a member using its string name, Python provides a straightforward solution.

Here's how you can get the value of an enum member by its string name:

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In the example above, we have a simple enum MyEnum with three members: VALUE1, VALUE2, and VALUE3. To retrieve the value of a member by its string name, you can simply index the enum class with the desired name (MyEnum[string_name]) and access its value attribute.

Here's a breakdown of the steps:

Define your enum class (MyEnum) by subclassing Enum.

Declare enum members with their respective values.

Specify the string name of the enum member you want to retrieve the value for (string_name = 'VALUE2').

Access the value of the enum member using MyEnum[string_name].value.

This approach provides a clean and concise way to fetch enum values dynamically based on their string names.

Remember, when using this method, ensure that the string name provided corresponds to an existing enum member to avoid raising KeyError.

Enums are versatile tools in Python, offering a structured way to work with predefined sets of constants. By understanding how to manipulate enum members by string names, you can enhance the flexibility and usability of your code.

That's it! You're now equipped with the knowledge to efficiently retrieve enum values using their string names in Python.