Structures and Enums in C++

Imagine a student ID card. It holds different types of information together: a name, age, class, roll number, and more. You wouldn’t store all this in separate boxes, you keep it in one card, neatly organized. C++ lets us do the same using structures (structs). And when you want to store a fixed list of choices like Grades, Days, or Levels, C++ gives you enums.

Today, your program learns how to group different pieces of data into one meaningful unit.

A Digital Student ID Card

You’ll create a small program that stores:

• Student name
• Age
• Class
• Grade (using enum)

Then print it as a clean ID card:

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========================
   STUDENT ID CARD
   Name: Ali Khan
   Age: 15
   Class: 10
   Grade: A
========================

This project teaches you how structs and enums help organize real-world data.

What Is a Structure?

A structure is a custom data type that groups variables of different types under one name.
It’s like creating a container for related information.
Perfect for storing complex records like students, books, or players.

Example

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struct Student {
    string name;
    int age;
    int classNo;
};

Creating Structure Variables

Once you define a structure, you can create variables of that type.
Each variable stores its own set of grouped information.

Example

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Student s1;
s1.name = "Ali";

Accessing Structure Members

Use the dot (.) operator to access values inside a structure.
It lets you read or update each field individually.

Example

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cout << s1.age;

What Is an Enum?

An enum (enumeration) defines a set of named constants. It allows you to store fixed options like Grade A, B, C in readable form. Great for menus, states, or categories.

Example

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enum Grade {A, B, C, F};

Using Enums with Structures

Enums inside a struct make data organized and meaningful. You can store a grade not as a number but as a readable label.

Example

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s1.grade = A;

Let’s Build the Student ID Card

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#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

enum Grade {A, B, C, F};

struct Student {
    string name;
    int age;
    int classNo;
    Grade grade;
};

int main() {
    Student s;

    s.name = "Ali Khan";
    s.age = 15;
    s.classNo = 10;
    s.grade = A;

    cout << "========================" << endl;
    cout << "   STUDENT ID CARD" << endl;
    cout << "   Name: " << s.name << endl;
    cout << "   Age: " << s.age << endl;
    cout << "   Class: " << s.classNo << endl;
    cout << "   Grade: " << s.grade << endl;
    cout << "========================" << endl;

    return 0;
}

How It Works

• The Student struct groups name, age, class, and grade.
• The Grade enum provides predefined grade values.
• The program prints all details in a formatted card.

Test instantly using the DevsCall AI Code Runner.

Learn Together with AI

Try prompts:

• “Explain when to use structs instead of classes for beginners.”
• “Create a struct for a Book with title, author, pages, and price.”
• “Add an enum for BookCategory and use it inside the struct.”
• “Show me how to store multiple students using an array of structs.”

AI can help create larger, more realistic examples.

Practice Time

Write a C++ program that:

1. Defines a struct Car with fields: brand, model, year, and type (enum).
2. Uses an enum CarType {SEDAN, SUV, TRUCK}.
3. Stores values inside a Car variable.
4. Prints:

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========================
   CAR DETAILS
   Brand: Toyota
   Model: Corolla
   Year: 2020
   Type: SEDAN
========================

Ask AI if needed:

“How do I use enums inside a struct in C++?”