How to Bind an ASP.NET DropDownList to an Enumeration with two lines of code

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I have seen users writing number of lines of code to do a simple thing as binding an Enumeration to an ASP.NET DropDownList or ListBox. Here's how to do this with just two lines of code

<asp:DropDownList ID="DropDownList1" runat="server">
</asp:DropDownList>

<asp:ListBox ID="ListBox1" runat="server"></asp:ListBox>

C#

enum Speed
{
    Low = 1,
    Medium = 2,
    High = 3
}
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    DropDownList1.DataSource = Enum.GetValues(typeof(Speed));
    DropDownList1.DataBind();

    ListBox1.DataSource = Enum.GetValues(typeof(Speed));
    ListBox1.DataBind();
}

VB.NET

Friend Enum Speed
    Low = 1
    Medium = 2
    High = 3
End Enum

Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
    DropDownList1.DataSource = System.Enum.GetValues(GetType(Speed))
    DropDownList1.DataBind()

    ListBox1.DataSource = System.Enum.GetValues(GetType(Speed))
    ListBox1.DataBind()
End Sub

OUTPUT

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About The Author

Suprotim Agarwal, Developer Technologies MVP (Microsoft Most Valuable Professional) is the founder and contributor for DevCurry, DotNetCurry and SQLServerCurry. He is the Chief Editor of a Developer Magazine called DNC Magazine. He has also authored two Books - 51 Recipes using jQuery with ASP.NET Controls. and The Absolutely Awesome jQuery CookBook.

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