What is the purpose of the 'enum' keyword in OOP?

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What is the purpose of the 'enum' keyword in OOP?

The 'enum' keyword in Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is used to define an enumeration, which is a set of named values. The purpose of using the 'enum' keyword is to create a user-defined data type that can represent a fixed set of values.

Enums are commonly used to define a collection of related constants or options that have a specific meaning within a program. By using enums, we can improve code readability and maintainability by providing meaningful names to the values instead of using arbitrary numbers or strings.

Enums can be used in various scenarios, such as representing days of the week, months, colors, menu options, or any other situation where a limited set of values is required. They provide a way to define a restricted range of possible values for a variable, making the code more robust and less prone to errors.

Additionally, enums can be used in switch statements, allowing for concise and readable code when dealing with multiple possible values. They also provide type safety, as the compiler ensures that only valid enum values are assigned to variables of that enum type.

In summary, the purpose of the 'enum' keyword in OOP is to define a user-defined data type that represents a fixed set of named values, improving code readability, maintainability, and type safety.