Enumerations in Python

python_enums.py

################################################################################
# Enumerations in Python
################################################################################

def enum(*sequential, **named):
    enums = dict(zip(sequential, range(len(sequential))), **named)
    reverse = dict((value, key) for key, value in enums.iteritems())
    enums['reverse_mapping'] = reverse
    return type('Enum', (), enums)

Numbers = enum(ONE=1, TWO=2, THREE='three')

Numbers.ONE
Numbers.TWO
Numbers.THREE

# Automatic enumeration with something like this:
Numbers = enum('ZERO', 'ONE', 'TWO')
Numbers.ZERO
Numbers.ONE

# Converting the values back to names can be added this way:
Numbers.reverse_mapping['three']