How to Use Database Enums in Rust

Define an enum to group related variants and use match to handle each case safely. This pattern ensures your code handles every possible state without runtime errors.

enum Status {
    Active,
    Inactive,
    Pending,
}

fn check_status(s: Status) -> &'static str {
    match s {
        Status::Active => "Running",
        Status::Inactive => "Stopped",
        Status::Pending => "Waiting",
    }
}

fn main() {
    let s = Status::Active;
    println!("Status: {}", check_status(s));
}

An enum is a way to define a variable that can be one of several specific, named values. It matters because it forces you to handle every possible option in your code, preventing crashes from unexpected states. Think of it like a traffic light that can only be Red, Yellow, or Green, never something else.