Generics in Java are a facility of generic programming that were added to the Java programming language in 2004 within version J2SE 5.0. Generics allow a type or method to operate on objects of various types. They enable types (classes and interfaces) to be parameters when defining classes, interfaces, and methods. Much like the more familiar formal parameters used in method declarations, type parameters provide a way for you to reuse the same code with different inputs. The difference is that the inputs to formal parameters are values, while the inputs to type parameters are types.
Generics in Java are similar to templates in C++ . However, Java generics generate only one compiled version of a generic class or function regardless of the number of parameterizing types used. Furthermore, the Java run-time environment does not need to know which parameterized type is used because the type information is validated at compile-time and is not included in the compiled code.
Some of the benefits of using generics in Java include:
- Code that uses generics has many benefits over non-generic code.
- Generics provide compile-time type checking and eliminate the need for most typecasts.
- Generics enable programmers to implement generic algorithms that work on collections of different types, can be customized, and are type safe and easier to read.
In summary, generics in Java are a way to parameterize types, allowing for more flexible and reusable code that is type safe and easier to read.
