Should enums in C# have their own file?

c# coding-style enums
Finglas picture Finglas · Feb 17, 2010 · Viewed 73.6k times · Source

I have a class which uses an enumeration, the enum is currently in its own file which seems wasteful.

What is the general opinion on enums being placed within the namespace of a file that they are consumed in? Or should the enum really live in its own cs file?

Edit

I should mention that while the class in question uses these enumerations, so does external callers. In other words, another class can set these enumerations. So they are not used internally to the class, otherwise this question would be a no brainer.

Answer

James Curran picture James Curran · Feb 17, 2010

I wouldn't say "wasteful" (how much does an extra file cost?), but it is often inconventient. Usually there's one class that's most closely associtated with the enum, and I put them in the same file.

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