Re: ordinal() returns inconsistent values?

On 04/08/2010 02:27 PM, Todd wrote:


If you've ever looked at how enums are created (via javap -c), you'll
notice that you'll get something akin to [1]:

public final class Seasons extends Enum<Seasons> {
   public final static Seasons SPRING = new Seasons("SPRING", 0);
   public final static Seasons SUMMER = new Seasons("SUMMER", 1);
   public final static Seasons AUTUMN = new Seasons("AUTUMN", 2);
   public final static Seasons WINTER = new Seasons("WINTER", 3);

   private Seasons(String name, int ordinal) {
     super(name, ordinal);
   }
}

In other words, the ordinal is hardcoded into the class file at compile
time. Reading the JavaDocs should also give you this opinion, since the
only constructor it has is protected Enum(String name, int ordinal).

[1] I'm eliding the $VALUES variable and initialization, as well as the
values and valueOf functions. Also, what a coincidence that the four
seasons have the same lengths in their words in English.

--
Beware of bugs in the above code; I have only proved it correct, not
tried it. -- Donald E. Knuth