Enum values in Couchbase. string or integer?

Question

When storing enum like properties in couchbase, which is the preferred option and why ?

• are there any performance considerations ?
• how about code maintenance and re-factoring ?

should it be saved as: { color : 'red' } or { color : 1 }

Answer 1

{ color : 'red' } or { color : 1 }

Always do color: red in the database.

Reasons:

• When you add a new enum value you don't need to be careful of the 'index'
• Self documenting : there is no confusion what red means.

Also. The same should be done in your web API's.