Introduction
Generics are one of the most important features of C# programming language that enable developers to write reusable code. In this blog post, we will explore the basics of generics in C# programming language and understand how to use them with code samples.
What are Generics in C#?
Generics are a feature of C# programming language that allow you to define type-safe classes, interfaces, and methods. Generics enable you to write a code that can work with a variety of data types. Instead of writing a separate code for each data type, you can write a single code that can handle multiple data types.
Benefits of Generics
The following are some of the benefits of using generics in C# programming language:
- Reusability – Generics allow you to write a code that can be reused with different data types.
- Type-safety – Generics ensure that the code is type-safe and eliminate the possibility of runtime errors.
- Performance – Generics improve the performance of the code by reducing the number of boxing and unboxing operations.
How to use Generics in C# Programming?
Generics can be used with classes, interfaces, and methods. The following code sample shows how to use generics with a class:
csharpCopy codepublic class Stack<T>
{
private T[] items;
private int top;
public Stack()
{
items = new T[100];
top = -1;
}
public void Push(T item)
{
items[++top] = item;
}
public T Pop()
{
return items[top--];
}
}
In the above code, we have defined a Stack class that can work with any data type. The <T>
syntax is used to define the type parameter. The type parameter can be replaced with any data type at the time of creating an instance of the class.
The following code sample shows how to use generics with a method:
rCopy codepublic static T Max<T>(T a, T b) where T : IComparable<T>
{
if (a.CompareTo(b) > 0)
return a;
else
return b;
}
In the above code, we have defined a Max method that can work with any data type that implements the IComparable interface. The <T>
syntax is used to define the type parameter. The where keyword is used to specify the constraints on the type parameter.
Conclusion
Generics are an important feature of C# programming language that enable developers to write reusable code. Generics provide type-safety and improve the performance of the code. In this blog post, we have explored the basics of generics in C# programming language and learned how to use them with code samples.