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Are instances of enums static by default?

 
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In the above example, why are we able to access instances of the enum (i.e. as a.DOG.sound) when a is null and enum is not declared as static?
Are the enum instances static by default?
 
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No, enums are essentially a fixed set of constants.

For more info, see http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/javaOO/enum.html
 
O. Ziggy
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I think I've got the basics of enum but i just don't understand how the above code is able to access the enum using a null reference and from a static context.

Thanks
 
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enum constants are static final by default.
 
James Boswell
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An enum's identity is constant but not its state.
 
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O. Ziggy wrote:... able to access the enum using a null reference ...



I agree, seems strange -



Regards,
Dan
 
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Just like the static final constants which they made obsolete.
 
James Boswell
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It isn't when you think of it this way. The statement DOG("woof") when you define the enum Animals is actually calling the constructor Animals(String) and hence setting the member sound to "woof". Hence, System.out.println(a.DOG) is simply accessing this constant, calling the toString() method which returns the name of the constant.
 
Dan Drillich
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Thank you Paul and James.
 
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Enum by default adds names() and static values() method which can be used to get name of Enum.
 
O. Ziggy
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Thank you all.
 
Don't get me started about those stupid light bulbs.
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