Using static fields as config options for methods

Question

There's a pattern I've noticed in Java, and I was wondering if there's a name for it so I can look up implementations in other languages.

I've seen static final fields of a class used as method arguments. This limits the caller of the method to a public set of values for that argument. For example:

public class Calendar {

    public static final int JANUARY = 1;
    public static final int FEBRUARY = 1;
    //and so on

    public void setMonth(int month){
       //set month
    }
}

Calendar c = new Calendar();
c.setMonth(Calendar.JANUARY);

Is there a name for this pattern? Thanks...

(example edited to working code, been a long time since I wrote Java)

score 6 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 27 '11 at 09:13

6

Although your example is wrong, I think you are looking for enum

answered Jun 27 '11 at 09:13

Suraj Chandran

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1

Thank you. If any one else is looking for a PHP implementation, try [this](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/254514/php-and-enums). – hypertext Jun 27 '11 at 09:40

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 27 '11 at 09:18

1

public class Calendar {

    public enum Month {
        JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, MAY, JUNE, JULY, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER
    }

    private Month month;

    public void setMonth(Month month){
       this.month = month;
    }
}

answered Jun 27 '11 at 09:18

oliholz

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You probably want `public void setMonth(Month month) {...}` – Axel Jun 27 '11 at 09:19

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 27 '11 at 09:16

0

You shoud define enum

enum Month
{
Jan,Feb,Mar,Apr;
}
class Sample
{
public static void main(String arg[])
{
Month m=Month.Mar;
System.out.println(m); // Mar
}
}

answered Jun 27 '11 at 09:16

Cris

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Using static fields as config options for methods

3 Answers3