In TypeScript, an enum is a data type that allows you to define a set of named constants representing numeric or string values. Enums provide meaningful names to these constants, making the code more readable and maintainable. Here's an example of how to define and use an enum in TypeScript: 

// Numeric Enum
enum Direction {
  North, // By default, the value is 0
  South, // The value will be 1
  East,  // The value will be 2
  West,  // The value will be 3
}

// Using the enum constants
let playerDirection: Direction = Direction.North;
console.log(playerDirection); // Output: 0

playerDirection = Direction.East;
console.log(playerDirection); // Output: 2

// String Enum
enum Color {
  Red = "RED",
  Green = "GREEN",
  Blue = "BLUE",
}

// Using the enum constants
let chosenColor: Color = Color.Green;
console.log(chosenColor); // Output: "GREEN"

chosenColor = Color.Red;
console.log(chosenColor); // Output: "RED"
In the example above, we first define a numeric enum `Direction` with constants `North`, `South`, `East`, and `West`. By default, these constants are assigned numeric values starting from 0 and incrementing by 1 for each subsequent constant. Next, we define a string enum `Color` with constants `Red`, `Green`, and `Blue`, each associated with a specific string value. We then declare variables `playerDirection` and `chosenColor`, and assign them enum constants `Direction.North` and `Color.Green`, respectively. We can see that TypeScript infers the correct type for these variables based on the enum they are assigned to. Now, let's understand the problems that enums solve: 1. Improved Readability: Enums provide meaningful names to numeric or string values, making the code more self-descriptive. Instead of using raw numbers or strings, you can use enum constants to convey the intent of the data. 2. Type Safety: Enums allow TypeScript to enforce type safety. When you use an enum, TypeScript ensures that the values used are within the defined set of constants. This helps catch errors at compile-time, reducing the chance of runtime errors due to invalid values. 3. Intellisense and Autocompletion: IDEs and code editors can provide autocompletion and intellisense for enum constants, making it easier to work with them and reducing the likelihood of typing errors. 4. Refactoring Support: If you need to change the values of your constants, you only need to update the enum definition in one place, and the changes will propagate throughout your codebase. 5. Code Clarity: Enumerated values can make the code more expressive and self-documenting, especially when dealing with a limited set of options or states. Despite these advantages, it's essential to use enums judiciously. For small and fixed sets of related values, enums are a great choice. However, for larger sets or values that might change frequently, other solutions like union types or constants might be more appropriate.