How to convert a string to an Enum in C#?

C# being a strictly typed language, so even if a string matches perfectly the value of an enum, it cannot be automatically cast.

Solution

To transform/convert a string into an enum value, you will need to use the following method:

bool success = Enum.TryParse("stringValue", out TestEnum enumValue);

This Enum.TryParse method is available in .NET Core and .NET Framework ≥4.0, and the "out" keyword will allow you to initialize and assign a variable directly by passing it as a parameter to the function (available in C#7).

Here is a code containing all the context to see things more clearly:

enum TestEnum
{
    Zero,
    One
}

static void Main(string[] args)
{
    string rawValue = "Zero";
    bool success = Enum.TryParse(rawValue, out TestEnum enumValue);
    if (success) {
        Console.WriteLine(enumValue.ToString());
    } else
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Couldn't convert");
    }
}

Warning: Even when the conversion fails, the output variable (with the out keyword) will be set by default to the first value of the Enum!

You must therefore always have a condition that checks the return state of the Enum.TryParse method!