How to use enums as flags in C++?

Jen_67063 0
Viewed 209406

Treating enums as flags works nicely in C# via the [Flags] attribute, but what's the best way to do this in C++?

For example, I'd like to write:

enum AnimalFlags
{
    HasClaws = 1,
    CanFly =2,
    EatsFish = 4,
    Endangered = 8
};

seahawk.flags = CanFly | EatsFish | Endangered;

However, I get compiler errors regarding int/enum conversions. Is there a nicer way to express this than just blunt casting? Preferably, I don't want to rely on constructs from 3rd party libraries such as boost or Qt.

EDIT: As indicated in the answers, I can avoid the compiler error by declaring seahawk.flags as int. However, I'd like to have some mechanism to enforce type safety, so someone can't write seahawk.flags = HasMaximizeButton.

enums c++
25 Answers

Note (also a bit off topic): Another way to make unique flags can be done using a bit shift. I, myself, find this easier to read.

enum Flags
{
    A = 1 << 0, // binary 0001
    B = 1 << 1, // binary 0010
    C = 1 << 2, // binary 0100
    D = 1 << 3  // binary 1000
};

It can hold values up to an int so that is, most of the time, 32 flags which is clearly reflected in the shift amount.

user_3165200

I use the following macro:

#define ENUM_FLAG_OPERATORS(T)                                                                                                                                            \
    inline T operator~ (T a) { return static_cast<T>( ~static_cast<std::underlying_type<T>::type>(a) ); }                                                                       \
    inline T operator| (T a, T b) { return static_cast<T>( static_cast<std::underlying_type<T>::type>(a) | static_cast<std::underlying_type<T>::type>(b) ); }                   \
    inline T operator& (T a, T b) { return static_cast<T>( static_cast<std::underlying_type<T>::type>(a) & static_cast<std::underlying_type<T>::type>(b) ); }                   \
    inline T operator^ (T a, T b) { return static_cast<T>( static_cast<std::underlying_type<T>::type>(a) ^ static_cast<std::underlying_type<T>::type>(b) ); }                   \
    inline T& operator|= (T& a, T b) { return reinterpret_cast<T&>( reinterpret_cast<std::underlying_type<T>::type&>(a) |= static_cast<std::underlying_type<T>::type>(b) ); }   \
    inline T& operator&= (T& a, T b) { return reinterpret_cast<T&>( reinterpret_cast<std::underlying_type<T>::type&>(a) &= static_cast<std::underlying_type<T>::type>(b) ); }   \
    inline T& operator^= (T& a, T b) { return reinterpret_cast<T&>( reinterpret_cast<std::underlying_type<T>::type&>(a) ^= static_cast<std::underlying_type<T>::type>(b) ); }

It is similar to the ones mentioned above but has several improvements:

  • It is type safe (it does not suppose that the underlying type is an int)
  • It does not require to specify manually the underlying type (as opposed to @LunarEclipse 's answer)

It does need to include type_traits:

#include <type_traits>
user_97697680

Currently there is no language support for enum flags, Meta classes might inherently add this feature if it would ever be part of the c++ standard.

My solution would be to create enum-only instantiated template functions adding support for type-safe bitwise operations for enum class using its underlying type:

File: EnumClassBitwise.h

#pragma once
#ifndef _ENUM_CLASS_BITWISE_H_
#define _ENUM_CLASS_BITWISE_H_

#include <type_traits>

//unary ~operator    
template <typename Enum, typename std::enable_if_t<std::is_enum<Enum>::value, int> = 0>
constexpr inline Enum& operator~ (Enum& val)
{
    val = static_cast<Enum>(~static_cast<std::underlying_type_t<Enum>>(val));
    return val;
}

// & operator
template <typename Enum, typename std::enable_if_t<std::is_enum<Enum>::value, int> = 0>
constexpr inline Enum operator& (Enum lhs, Enum rhs)
{
    return static_cast<Enum>(static_cast<std::underlying_type_t<Enum>>(lhs) & static_cast<std::underlying_type_t<Enum>>(rhs));
}

// &= operator
template <typename Enum, typename std::enable_if_t<std::is_enum<Enum>::value, int> = 0>
constexpr inline Enum operator&= (Enum& lhs, Enum rhs)
{
    lhs = static_cast<Enum>(static_cast<std::underlying_type_t<Enum>>(lhs) & static_cast<std::underlying_type_t<Enum>>(rhs));
    return lhs;
}

//| operator

template <typename Enum, typename std::enable_if_t<std::is_enum<Enum>::value, int> = 0>
constexpr inline Enum operator| (Enum lhs, Enum rhs)
{
    return static_cast<Enum>(static_cast<std::underlying_type_t<Enum>>(lhs) | static_cast<std::underlying_type_t<Enum>>(rhs));
}
//|= operator

template <typename Enum, typename std::enable_if_t<std::is_enum<Enum>::value, int> = 0>
constexpr inline Enum& operator|= (Enum& lhs, Enum rhs)
{
    lhs = static_cast<Enum>(static_cast<std::underlying_type_t<Enum>>(lhs) | static_cast<std::underlying_type_t<Enum>>(rhs));
    return lhs;
}

#endif // _ENUM_CLASS_BITWISE_H_

For convenience and for reducing mistakes, you might want to wrap your bit flags operations for enums and for integers as well:

File: BitFlags.h

#pragma once
#ifndef _BIT_FLAGS_H_
#define _BIT_FLAGS_H_

#include "EnumClassBitwise.h"

 template<typename T>
 class BitFlags
 {
 public:

     constexpr inline BitFlags() = default;
     constexpr inline BitFlags(T value) { mValue = value; }
     constexpr inline BitFlags operator| (T rhs) const { return mValue | rhs; }
     constexpr inline BitFlags operator& (T rhs) const { return mValue & rhs; }
     constexpr inline BitFlags operator~ () const { return ~mValue; }
     constexpr inline operator T() const { return mValue; }
     constexpr inline BitFlags& operator|=(T rhs) { mValue |= rhs; return *this; }
     constexpr inline BitFlags& operator&=(T rhs) { mValue &= rhs; return *this; }
     constexpr inline bool test(T rhs) const { return (mValue & rhs) == rhs; }
     constexpr inline void set(T rhs) { mValue |= rhs; }
     constexpr inline void clear(T rhs) { mValue &= ~rhs; }

 private:
     T mValue;
 };
#endif //#define _BIT_FLAGS_H_

Possible usage:

#include <cstdint>
#include <BitFlags.h>
void main()
{
    enum class Options : uint32_t
    { 
          NoOption = 0 << 0
        , Option1  = 1 << 0
        , Option2  = 1 << 1
        , Option3  = 1 << 2
        , Option4  = 1 << 3
    };

    const uint32_t Option1 = 1 << 0;
    const uint32_t Option2 = 1 << 1;
    const uint32_t Option3 = 1 << 2;
    const uint32_t Option4 = 1 << 3;

   //Enum BitFlags
    BitFlags<Options> optionsEnum(Options::NoOption);
    optionsEnum.set(Options::Option1 | Options::Option3);

   //Standard integer BitFlags
    BitFlags<uint32_t> optionsUint32(0);
    optionsUint32.set(Option1 | Option3); 

    return 0;
}
user_104742880

@Xaqq has provided a really nice type-safe way to use enum flags here by a flag_set class.

I published the code in GitHub, usage is as follows:

#include "flag_set.hpp"

enum class AnimalFlags : uint8_t {
    HAS_CLAWS,
    CAN_FLY,
    EATS_FISH,
    ENDANGERED,
    _
};

int main()
{
    flag_set<AnimalFlags> seahawkFlags(AnimalFlags::HAS_CLAWS
                                       | AnimalFlags::EATS_FISH
                                       | AnimalFlags::ENDANGERED);

    if (seahawkFlags & AnimalFlags::ENDANGERED)
        cout << "Seahawk is endangered";
}
user_2587720

Another macro solution, but unlike the existing answers this does not use reinterpret_cast (or a C-cast) to cast between Enum& and Int&, which is forbidden in standard C++ (see this post).

#define MAKE_FLAGS_ENUM(TEnum, TUnder)                                                                                             \
TEnum  operator~  ( TEnum  a          ) { return static_cast<TEnum> (~static_cast<TUnder> (a)                           ); }  \
TEnum  operator|  ( TEnum  a, TEnum b ) { return static_cast<TEnum> ( static_cast<TUnder> (a) |  static_cast<TUnder>(b) ); }  \
TEnum  operator&  ( TEnum  a, TEnum b ) { return static_cast<TEnum> ( static_cast<TUnder> (a) &  static_cast<TUnder>(b) ); }  \
TEnum  operator^  ( TEnum  a, TEnum b ) { return static_cast<TEnum> ( static_cast<TUnder> (a) ^  static_cast<TUnder>(b) ); }  \
TEnum& operator|= ( TEnum& a, TEnum b ) { a = static_cast<TEnum>(static_cast<TUnder>(a) | static_cast<TUnder>(b) ); return a; }  \
TEnum& operator&= ( TEnum& a, TEnum b ) { a = static_cast<TEnum>(static_cast<TUnder>(a) & static_cast<TUnder>(b) ); return a; }  \
TEnum& operator^= ( TEnum& a, TEnum b ) { a = static_cast<TEnum>(static_cast<TUnder>(a) ^ static_cast<TUnder>(b) ); return a; }

Losing the reinterpret_cast means we can't rely on the x |= y syntax any more, but by expanding these into their x = x | y forms we no longer need it.

Note: You can use std::underlying_type to obtain TUnder, I've not included it for brevity.

user_36016600

Here's a lazy C++11 solution that doesn't change the default behavior of enums. It also works for enum struct and enum class, and is constexpr.

#include <type_traits>

template<class T = void> struct enum_traits {};

template<> struct enum_traits<void> {
    struct _allow_bitops {
        static constexpr bool allow_bitops = true;
    };
    using allow_bitops = _allow_bitops;

    template<class T, class R = T>
    using t = typename std::enable_if<std::is_enum<T>::value and
        enum_traits<T>::allow_bitops, R>::type;

    template<class T>
    using u = typename std::underlying_type<T>::type;
};

template<class T>
constexpr enum_traits<>::t<T> operator~(T a) {
    return static_cast<T>(~static_cast<enum_traits<>::u<T>>(a));
}
template<class T>
constexpr enum_traits<>::t<T> operator|(T a, T b) {
    return static_cast<T>(
        static_cast<enum_traits<>::u<T>>(a) |
        static_cast<enum_traits<>::u<T>>(b));
}
template<class T>
constexpr enum_traits<>::t<T> operator&(T a, T b) {
    return static_cast<T>(
        static_cast<enum_traits<>::u<T>>(a) &
        static_cast<enum_traits<>::u<T>>(b));
}
template<class T>
constexpr enum_traits<>::t<T> operator^(T a, T b) {
    return static_cast<T>(
        static_cast<enum_traits<>::u<T>>(a) ^
        static_cast<enum_traits<>::u<T>>(b));
}
template<class T>
constexpr enum_traits<>::t<T, T&> operator|=(T& a, T b) {
    a = a | b;
    return a;
}
template<class T>
constexpr enum_traits<>::t<T, T&> operator&=(T& a, T b) {
    a = a & b;
    return a;
}
template<class T>
constexpr enum_traits<>::t<T, T&> operator^=(T& a, T b) {
    a = a ^ b;
    return a;
}

To enable bitwise operators for an enum:

enum class my_enum {
    Flag1 = 1 << 0,
    Flag2 = 1 << 1,
    Flag3 = 1 << 2,
    // ...
};

// The magic happens here
template<> struct enum_traits<my_enum> :
    enum_traits<>::allow_bitops {};

constexpr my_enum foo = my_enum::Flag1 | my_enum::Flag2 | my_enum::Flag3;
user_22558820

Maybe like NS_OPTIONS of Objective-C.

#define ENUM(T1, T2) \
enum class T1 : T2; \
inline T1 operator~ (T1 a) { return (T1)~(int)a; } \
inline T1 operator| (T1 a, T1 b) { return static_cast<T1>((static_cast<T2>(a) | static_cast<T2>(b))); } \
inline T1 operator& (T1 a, T1 b) { return static_cast<T1>((static_cast<T2>(a) & static_cast<T2>(b))); } \
inline T1 operator^ (T1 a, T1 b) { return static_cast<T1>((static_cast<T2>(a) ^ static_cast<T2>(b))); } \
inline T1& operator|= (T1& a, T1 b) { return reinterpret_cast<T1&>((reinterpret_cast<T2&>(a) |= static_cast<T2>(b))); } \
inline T1& operator&= (T1& a, T1 b) { return reinterpret_cast<T1&>((reinterpret_cast<T2&>(a) &= static_cast<T2>(b))); } \
inline T1& operator^= (T1& a, T1 b) { return reinterpret_cast<T1&>((reinterpret_cast<T2&>(a) ^= static_cast<T2>(b))); } \
enum class T1 : T2

ENUM(Options, short) {
    FIRST  = 1 << 0,
    SECOND = 1 << 1,
    THIRD  = 1 << 2,
    FOURTH = 1 << 3
};

auto options = Options::FIRST | Options::SECOND;
options |= Options::THIRD;
if ((options & Options::SECOND) == Options::SECOND)
    cout << "Contains second option." << endl;
if ((options & Options::THIRD) == Options::THIRD)
    cout << "Contains third option." << endl;
return 0;

// Output:
// Contains second option. 
// Contains third option.
user_44016640

Copy-pasteable "evil" macro based on some of the other answers in this thread:

#include <type_traits>

/*
 * Macro to allow enum values to be combined and evaluated as flags.
 *  * Based on:
 *  - DEFINE_ENUM_FLAG_OPERATORS from <winnt.h>
 *  - https://stackoverflow.com/a/63031334/1624459
 */
#define MAKE_ENUM_FLAGS(TEnum)                                                      \
    inline TEnum operator~(TEnum a) {                                               \
        using TUnder = typename std::underlying_type_t<TEnum>;                      \
        return static_cast<TEnum>(~static_cast<TUnder>(a));                         \
    }                                                                               \
    inline TEnum operator|(TEnum a, TEnum b) {                                      \
        using TUnder = typename std::underlying_type_t<TEnum>;                      \
        return static_cast<TEnum>(static_cast<TUnder>(a) | static_cast<TUnder>(b)); \
    }                                                                               \
    inline TEnum operator&(TEnum a, TEnum b) {                                      \
        using TUnder = typename std::underlying_type_t<TEnum>;                      \
        return static_cast<TEnum>(static_cast<TUnder>(a) & static_cast<TUnder>(b)); \
    }                                                                               \
    inline TEnum operator^(TEnum a, TEnum b) {                                      \
        using TUnder = typename std::underlying_type_t<TEnum>;                      \
        return static_cast<TEnum>(static_cast<TUnder>(a) ^ static_cast<TUnder>(b)); \
    }                                                                               \
    inline TEnum& operator|=(TEnum& a, TEnum b) {                                   \
        using TUnder = typename std::underlying_type_t<TEnum>;                      \
        a = static_cast<TEnum>(static_cast<TUnder>(a) | static_cast<TUnder>(b));    \
        return a;                                                                   \
    }                                                                               \
    inline TEnum& operator&=(TEnum& a, TEnum b) {                                   \
        using TUnder = typename std::underlying_type_t<TEnum>;                      \
        a = static_cast<TEnum>(static_cast<TUnder>(a) & static_cast<TUnder>(b));    \
        return a;                                                                   \
    }                                                                               \
    inline TEnum& operator^=(TEnum& a, TEnum b) {                                   \
        using TUnder = typename std::underlying_type_t<TEnum>;                      \
        a = static_cast<TEnum>(static_cast<TUnder>(a) ^ static_cast<TUnder>(b));    \
        return a;                                                                   \
    }

Usage

enum class Passability : std::uint8_t {
    Clear      = 0,
    GroundUnit = 1 << 1,
    FlyingUnit = 1 << 2,
    Building   = 1 << 3,
    Tree       = 1 << 4,
    Mountain   = 1 << 5,
    Blocked    = 1 << 6,
    Water      = 1 << 7,
    Coastline  = 1 << 8
};

MAKE_ENUM_FLAGS(Passability)

Advantages

  • Only applies to chosen enums when used explicitly.
  • No use of illegal reinterpret_cast.
  • No need to specify the underlying type.

Notes

  • Replace std::underlying_type_t<TEnum> with std::underlying_type<TEnum>::type if using C++ <14.
user_16244590

You can use struct as follow:

struct UiFlags2 {
    static const int
    FULLSCREEN = 0x00000004,               //api 16
    HIDE_NAVIGATION = 0x00000002,          //api 14
    LAYOUT_HIDE_NAVIGATION = 0x00000200,   //api 16
    LAYOUT_FULLSCREEN = 0x00000400,        //api 16
    LAYOUT_STABLE = 0x00000100,            //api 16
    IMMERSIVE_STICKY = 0x00001000;         //api 19
};

and use as this:

int flags = UiFlags2::FULLSCREEN | UiFlags2::HIDE_NAVIGATION;

So you don't need to int casting and it is directly usable.
Also it is scope separated like enum class

user_10747990
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