If you want to map a enum in JPA/Hibernate POJO class, so that only specific values can be saved for underlying database column, it is possible now very easily.

public enum StatusEnum {
ACTIVE,
IDLE,
PENDING,
APPROVED;
}

The sample POJO File is given below, have an idea. @Enumerated( javax.persistence.EnumType.STRING ) tells what values you want into database from provided enum type, & hibernate will automatically convert that enum into that specified data type.

@Entity
@Table( name = "Invoice" )
public class Testtable implements java.io.Serializable {

	// Fields

	private Integer		id;
	private StatusEnum		status;

	@Column( name = "status", length = 64 , columnDefinition = "enum(active,pending,idle,approved)")
	@Enumerated( javax.persistence.EnumType.STRING )
	public StatusEnum getStatus( ) {
		return status;
	}

	public void setStatus( StatusEnum status ) {

		this.status = status;
	}

	// Property accessors
	@Id
	@Column( name = "id", unique = true, nullable = false )
	public Integer getId( ) {

		return this.id;
	}

	public void setId( Integer id ) {

		this.id = id;
	}
}