Editing Java syntax (section)

====Enumerations====
This language feature was introduced in [[J2SE 5.0]]. Technically enumerations are a kind of class containing enum constants in its body. Each enum constant defines an instance of the enum type. Enumeration classes cannot be instantiated anywhere except in the enumeration class itself.

<syntaxhighlight lang="java">
enum Season {
    WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER, AUTUMN
}
</syntaxhighlight>

Enum constants are allowed to have constructors, which are called when the class is loaded:

<syntaxhighlight lang="java">
public enum Season {
    WINTER("Cold"), SPRING("Warmer"), SUMMER("Hot"), AUTUMN("Cooler");

    Season(String description) {
        this.description = description;
    }

    private final String description;

    public String getDescription() {
        return description;
    }
}
</syntaxhighlight>

Enumerations can have class bodies, in which case they are treated like anonymous classes extending the enum class:

<syntaxhighlight lang="java">
public enum Season {
    WINTER {
        String getDescription() {return "cold";}
    },
    SPRING {
        String getDescription() {return "warmer";}
    },
    SUMMER {
        String getDescription() {return "hot";}
    },
    FALL {
        String getDescription() {return "cooler";}
    };
}
</syntaxhighlight>