Why should we write Enum.Val in Java, but only Val in the switch?

Question

I have, say

private enum MyEnum { CONST1, CONST2 }

I need to write

private MyEnum var = MyEnum.CONST1;

But in the switch I will write

switch(var) {
case CONST1:
...
}

Why is this a difference?

Answer 1

You do not need to write MyEnum.CONST1. You can use static import on it, and then you can reference CONST1 without MyEnum.

The design of the switch was provided as a convenience, so they made it as convenient as possible and do not require a name such as an enumeration. It also makes it more obvious that you can only use instances of one enumeration, and you cannot do things like this:

switch (val) {
case MyEnum1.VAL1:
  // ...
break;
case MyEnum2.VAL1:
  // ...
}

Answer 2

You don’t have to. You can do:

import static package.MyEnum.CONST1;

private MyEnum var = CONST1;