To Bean Or Not To Bean

Here's where I openly display my newbie level of knowledge by asking a question of supreme simplicity, yet the answer to which is beyond my understanding Regarding French beans, there is much advice on harvesting while slender and without seeds having developed too much. Mine are about 5 to 6 inches with some visible bumbs from seeds inside, so here's my question: are they still fine to eat or best left to mature completely and harvest as Haricot beans? Culinary advice experience most welcome Many thanks

They are edible as 5 different bean types.

a - as green beans before the beans inside develop
b - as green beans with small beans inside
c - as haricots [beans inside used, whilst still white]
d - as shellys [beans inside colouring, not fully dried out]
e - as dried beans [beans inside coloured, and dried out and fully resoaked and cooked before eating]