Enum.HasFlag Method (System)

HasFlag Method

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Microsoft Visual Studio 2010/.NET Framework 4

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.NET Framework Class Library

Enum..::.HasFlag Method

Determines whether one or more bit fields are set in the current instance.

Namespace: System
Assembly: mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)

Syntax

Visual Basic

Public Function HasFlag ( _
    flag As Enum _
) As Boolean

public bool HasFlag(
    Enum flag
)

Visual C++

public:
bool HasFlag(
    Enum^ flag
)

member HasFlag : 
        flag:Enum -> bool

Parameters

flag: Type: System..::.Enum
An enumeration value.

Return Value

Type: System..::.Boolean
true if the bit field or bit fields that are set in flag are also set in the current instance; otherwise, false.

Exceptions

Exception	Condition
ArgumentException	flag is a different type than the current instance.

Remarks

The HasFlag method returns the result of the following Boolean expression.

thisInstance And flag = flag

If the underlying value of flag is zero, the method returns true. If this behavior is not desirable, you can use the Equals method to test for equality with zero and call HasFlag only if the underlying value of flag is non-zero, as the following example illustrates.

Visual Basic

<Flags> Public Enum Pet
   None = 0
   Dog = 1
   Cat = 2
   Bird = 4
   Rabbit = 8
   Other = 16
End Enum

Module Example
   Public Sub Main()
      Dim petsInFamilies() As Pet = { Pet.None, Pet.Dog Or Pet.Cat, Pet.Dog }
      Dim familiesWithoutPets As Integer
      Dim familiesWithDog As Integer

      For Each petsInFamily In petsInFamilies
         ' Count the number of families that have no pets.
         If petsInFamily.Equals(Pet.None) Then
            familiesWithoutPets += 1 
        ' Of families that have pets, count the number of families with a dog.
         Else If petsInFamily.HasFlag(Pet.Dog) Then
            familiesWithDog += 1
         End If
      Next
      Console.WriteLine("{0} of {1} families in the sample have no pets.", 
                        familiesWithoutPets, petsInFamilies.Length)   
      Console.WriteLine("{0} of {1} families in the sample have a dog.", 
                        familiesWithDog, petsInFamilies.Length)   
   End Sub
End Module
' The example displays the following output:
'       1 of 3 families in the sample have no pets.
'       2 of 3 families in the sample have a dog.

using System;

[Flags] public enum Pet {
   None = 0,
   Dog = 1,
   Cat = 2,
   Bird = 4,
   Rabbit = 8,
   Other = 16
}

public class Example
{
   public static void Main()
   {
      Pet[] petsInFamilies = { Pet.None, Pet.Dog | Pet.Cat, Pet.Dog };
      int familiesWithoutPets = 0;
      int familiesWithDog = 0;

      foreach (Pet petsInFamily in petsInFamilies)
      {
         // Count families that have no pets.
         if (petsInFamily.Equals(Pet.None))
            familiesWithoutPets++;
         // Of families with pets, count families that have a dog.
         else if (petsInFamily.HasFlag(Pet.Dog))
            familiesWithDog++;
      }
      Console.WriteLine("{0} of {1} families in the sample have no pets.", 
                        familiesWithoutPets, petsInFamilies.Length);   
      Console.WriteLine("{0} of {1} families in the sample have a dog.", 
                        familiesWithDog, petsInFamilies.Length);   
   }
}
// The example displays the following output:
//       1 of 3 families in the sample have no pets.
//       2 of 3 families in the sample have a dog.

The HasFlag method is designed to be used with enumeration types that are marked with the FlagsAttribute attribute. For enumeration types that are not marked with the FlagsAttribute attribute, call either the Equals method or the CompareTo method.

Examples

The following example defines an ItemsOrdered enumeration that reflects categories of items that a customer can order in a restaurant. The example tests whether the customer has ordered both an entrée and a beverage.

Visual Basic

<Flags> Public Enum DinnerItems As Integer
   None = 0
   Entree = 1
   Appetizer = 2
   Side = 4
   Dessert = 8
   Beverage = 16 
   BarBeverage = 32
End Enum

Module Example
   Public Sub Main()
      Dim myOrder As DinnerItems = DinnerItems.Appetizer Or DinnerItems.Entree Or
                                   DinnerItems.Beverage Or DinnerItems.Dessert
      Dim flagValue As DinnerItems = DinnerItems.Entree Or DinnerItems.Beverage
      Console.WriteLine("{0} includes {1}: {2}", 
                        myOrder, flagValue, myOrder.HasFlag(flagValue))
   End Sub
End Module
' The example displays the following output:
'    Entree, Appetizer, Dessert, Beverage includes Entree, Beverage: True

using System;

[Flags] public enum DinnerItems {
   None = 0,
   Entree = 1,
   Appetizer = 2,
   Side = 4,
   Dessert = 8,
   Beverage = 16, 
   BarBeverage = 32
}

public class Example
{
   public static void Main()
   {
      DinnerItems myOrder = DinnerItems.Appetizer | DinnerItems.Entree |
                            DinnerItems.Beverage | DinnerItems.Dessert;
      DinnerItems flagValue = DinnerItems.Entree | DinnerItems.Beverage;
      Console.WriteLine("{0} includes {1}: {2}", 
                        myOrder, flagValue, myOrder.HasFlag(flagValue));
   }
}
// The example displays the following output:
//    Entree, Appetizer, Dessert, Beverage includes Entree, Beverage: True

Version Information

.NET Framework

Supported in: 4

.NET Framework Client Profile

Supported in: 4

Platforms

Windows 7, Windows Vista SP1 or later, Windows XP SP3, Windows Server 2008 (Server Core not supported), Windows Server 2008 R2 (Server Core supported with SP1 or later), Windows Server 2003 SP2

The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.

Reference