Java Generics

Java Generics is a feature that was introduced in Java 5 to enable developers to write generic code that can work with different types of data. It allows you to define a class, interface, or method that can work with any data type, while providing type safety at compile time.

The main advantage of using generics is to improve code reusability, making it more flexible and efficient. It allows you to write a single method or class that can handle multiple types of data, reducing code redundancy.

Generics are implemented using angle brackets < > and a type parameter that is a placeholder for a specific type. You can declare a type parameter when you define a class or method, and then use it within the class or method to work with different types of data. For example:

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public class MyList<T> {
    private T[] items;

    public MyList() {
        items = (T[]) new Object[10];
    }

    public void add(T item) {
        // Add item to the list
    }

    public T get(int index) {
        return items[index];
    }
}

In the example above, T is a type parameter that can be replaced by any data type. The MyList class has a constructor that creates an array of type T using the new keyword, and methods add and get that can work with any data type.

When you create an instance of the MyList class, you can specify the actual data type you want to use by passing it as an argument in the angle brackets. For example:

MyList<String> myList = new MyList<String>();
myList.add("apple");
myList.add("banana");
String item = myList.get(0);

In this example, we have created an instance of the MyList class with the data type String. We have added two string items to the list using the add method and retrieved the first item using the get method.

Generics can also be used with interfaces and methods. Here's an example of how to define a generic interface:

public interface Pair<K, V> {
    public K getKey();
    public V getValue();
}

In this example, K and V are type parameters that represent the key and value of a pair. This interface can be implemented by any class that provides methods to get the key and value of a pair.

Overall, generics provide a powerful way to write more flexible and reusable code in Java. By using generics, you can create classes, interfaces, and methods that can work with any data type, while providing type safety at compile time.