How To Iterate Over UEnum

Sometimes we want to iterate over enum values.

In the Unreal Engine, We already have macros about making rages for UENUM.

First, Let’s make a test enum type.

UENUM(BlueprintType)
enum class ETest : uint8
{
	ZERO,
	FIRST,
	SECOND,
	THIRD,
	FOURTH,
	FIFTH
};

That looks decent enum type.

We also need to print the enum value name for the test.

template<typename TEnum>
static FString EnumToString(const FString& Name, TEnum Value)
{
	const UEnum* EnumPtr = FindObject<UEnum>(ANY_PACKAGE, *Name, true);

	if (UNLIKELY(!IsValid(EnumPtr)))
		return FString("Invalid");

	return EnumPtr->GetNameStringByValue((int32)Value);
}

Okay, I think we’re ready! Let’s get into the topic.

There are 3 types of enum range macro.

ENUM_RANGE_BY_COUNT

This is a simple one.

It makes iterator range from the initial value to counted value.

If we declare a range like below, We’ll Iterator 3 elements from the initial value.

ENUM_RANGE_BY_COUNT(ETest, 3);

Now we can iterate UENUM value with TEnumRange<> like this.

for (ETest Iter : TEnumRange<ETest>())
	{
		GEngine->AddOnScreenDebugMessage(-1, 999.f, FColor::Cyan, EnumToString<ETest>("ETest",Iter));
	}

You can see that we print only 3 elements.

ENUM_RANGE_BY_FIRST_AND_LAST

This version allows us to set the range scope ourselves.

If we declare a range like below, We’ll Iterator elements that from value to value.

from 2(ETest::SECOND) to 5(ETest::FIFTH)

ENUM_RANGE_BY_FIRST_AND_LAST(ETest, 2, 5);

You can see that we print from 2 to 5 value.

ENUM_RANGE_BY_VALUES

This version is quite interesting.

Let’s say we make our enum values non-contiguous like this.

UENUM(BlueprintType)
enum class ETest : uint8
{
	ZERO = 0,
	FIRST = 3,
	SECOND = 5,
	THIRD = 10,
	FOURTH = 99,
	FIFTH = 128
};

We can’t use the macro that was explained before. Because this enum is non-contiguous.

If we declare macro like below, We’ll Iterator non-contiguous enum range with specific individual values.

ENUM_RANGE_BY_VALUES(ETest, ETest::FIRST, ETest::FOURTH);

If you want to go deeper

You can find more details on these macro in EnumRange.h

Engine\Source\Runtime\Core\Public\Misc\EnumRange.h