how to check if string value is in the Enum list?

Question

In my query string, I have an age variable ?age=New_Born.

Is there a way I can check if this string value New_Born is in my Enum list

Answer 1

To parse the age:

Age age;
if (Enum.TryParse(typeof(Age), "New_Born", out age))
  MessageBox.Show("Defined");  // Defined for "New_Born, 1, 4 , 8, 12"

To see if it is defined:

if (Enum.IsDefined(typeof(Age), "New_Born"))
   MessageBox.Show("Defined");

Depending on how you plan to use the Age enum, flags may not be the right thing. As you probably know, [Flags] indicates you want to allow multiple values (as in a bit mask). IsDefined will return false for Age.Toddler | Age.Preschool because it has multiple values.