How to compare Enums in Python?
<p>Since Python 3.4, the <code>Enum</code> class exists.</p>

<p>I am writing a program, where some constants have a specific order and I wonder which way is the most pythonic to compare them:</p>

<pre><code>class Information(Enum):
    ValueOnly = 0
    FirstDerivative = 1
    SecondDerivative = 2
</code></pre>

<p>Now there is a method, which needs to compare a given <code>information</code> of <code>Information</code> with the different enums:</p>

<pre><code>information = Information.FirstDerivative
print(value)
if information &gt;= Information.FirstDerivative:
    print(jacobian)
if information &gt;= Information.SecondDerivative:
    print(hessian)
</code></pre>

<p>The direct comparison does not work with Enums, so there are three approaches and I wonder which one is preferred:</p>

<p>Approach 1: Use values:</p>

<pre><code>if information.value &gt;= Information.FirstDerivative.value:
     ...
</code></pre>

<p>Approach 2: Use IntEnum:</p>

<pre><code>class Information(IntEnum):
    ...
</code></pre>

<p>Approach 3: Not using Enums at all:</p>

<pre><code>class Information:
    ValueOnly = 0
    FirstDerivative = 1
    SecondDerivative = 2
</code></pre>

<p>Each approach works, Approach 1 is a bit more verbose, while Approach 2 uses the not recommended IntEnum-class, while  and Approach 3 seems to be the way one did this before Enum was added. </p>

<p>I tend to use Approach 1, but I am not sure. </p>

<p>Thanks for any advise!</p>

<p>I hadn'r encountered Enum before so I scanned the doc (<a href="https://docs.python.org/3/library/enum.html" rel="nofollow">https://docs.python.org/3/library/enum.html</a>) ... and found OrderedEnum (section 8.13.13.2)  Isn't this what you want? From the doc:</p>

<pre><code>&gt;&gt;&gt; class Grade(OrderedEnum):
...     A = 5
...     B = 4
...     C = 3
...     D = 2
...     F = 1
...
&gt;&gt;&gt; Grade.C &lt; Grade.A
True
</code></pre>

python enums compare