C++ declaring static enum vs enum in a class
c++, class, enums, nested, static
Solution
`static` cannot be applied to `enum` declarations, so your code is invalid.
From N3337, §7.1.1/5 [dcl.stc]
The `static` specifier can be applied only to names of variables and functions and to anonymous unions ...
An `enum` declaration is none of those.
You can create an instance of the `enum` and make that `static` if you want.
class Example
{
enum Items{ desk = 0, chair, monitor };
static Items items; // this is legal
};
In this case `items` is just like any other static data member.
This is an MSVC bug; from the linked bug report it seems the compiler will allow both `static` and `register` storage specifiers on `enum` declarations. The bug has been closed as fixed, so maybe the fix will be available in VS2015.
Problem
What's the difference between the `static enum` and `enum` definitions when defined inside a class declaration like the one shown below? ``` class Example { Example(); ~Example(); static enum Items{ desk = 0, chair, monitor }; enum Colors{ red = 0, blue, green }; } ``` Also, since we are defining types in a class, what do we call them? By analogy if I define a variable in a class, we call it a member variable.