What are the differences between generic and non-generic classes?

What are the differences between generic and non-generic classes?

Generic classes allow you to define a class with a placeholder for the data type, while non-generic classes are fixed to a specific data type.

Can you give me an example of a generic class?

Sure! A common example is a generic List<T> class in C#, where T can be any data type like int, string, etc.

What are the advantages of using generic classes?

Generic classes provide type safety, reduce code duplication, and improve performance by avoiding boxing and unboxing.

Are there any downsides to using generics?

One downside is that generics can complicate the code and may lead to performance issues if not used properly.

How do I decide when to use generics?

Use generics when you need a class or method to work with different data types while maintaining type safety and reusability.