Testing a [Flags] enum value for a single value

Question

If I have an enum that's marked with [Flags], is there a way in .NET to test a value of this type to see if it only contains a single value? I can get the result I want using bit-counting, but I'd rather use built-in functions if possible.

When looping through the enum values dynamically, Enum.GetValues() returns the combination flags as well. Calling that function on the enum in the following example returns 4 values. However, I don't want the value combinations included in the inner algorithm. Testing individual enum values for equality is out, since the enum could potentially contain many values, and it also requires extra maintenance when the values in the enum change.

[Flags] enum MyEnum { One = 1, Two = 2, Four = 4, Seven = One | Two | Four, } void MyFunction() { foreach (MyEnum enumValue in Enum.GetValues(typeof(MyEnum))) { if (!_HasSingleValue(enumValue)) continue; // Guaranteed that enumValue is either One, Two, or Four } } private bool _HasSingleValue(MyEnum value) { // ??? }

Related: StackOverflow: Enum.IsDefined on combined flags

Henrik · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-27 13:09:23Z

20

You can cast it to int and use the techniques from Bit Twiddling Hacks to check if it's a power of two.

int v = (int)enumValue; return v != 0 && (v & (v - 1)) == 0;

edited May 27, 2016 at 13:09

answered Nov 2, 2009 at 16:04

Henrik

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Adam Robinson Over a year ago

+1. While definitely not the most transparent technique, it's undoubtedly the simplest.

leppie · Accepted Answer · 2009-11-02 16:04:43Z

0

You can use a combination of IsDefined and checking for powers of 2.

answered Nov 2, 2009 at 16:04

leppie

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Jon Seigel Over a year ago

In the example I wrote, IsDefined would always evaluate to true.

TLiebe · Accepted Answer · 2009-11-02 16:05:16Z

You could you Enum.GetValues and count only those items that are a power of 2 (evenly divisible by 2 with no remainder).

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Testing a [Flags] enum value for a single value

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