C++ › Enums & Enum Classes
What is the difference between an enum and a set of #define constants?
BeginnerAnswer
Enum enumerators are typed, scoped (for enum class), visible to the debugger, and grouped as a type, whereas #define constants are untyped preprocessor text substitutions with no scope or type safety and no debug symbol. Enums (especially enum class) are strongly preferred over #define for related constants.
enum class State { On, Off }; // typed, debuggable
// vs: #define ON 0 (untyped, no scope)Real-world example Replacing a group of #define state constants with an enum class adds type checking and debugger names.