What are some examples of generics in Python?

What are some examples of generics in Python?

Generics in Python allow you to write flexible and reusable code. For example, you can use the List type from the typing module to create a function that works with any list type.

Can you show me a code example?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

from typing import List, TypeVar

T = TypeVar('T')

def get_first_element(elements: List[T]) -> T:
    return elements[0]

This function takes a list of any type and returns the first element.

What about using generics with classes?

You can also use generics with classes. For instance:

from typing import TypeVar, Generic

T = TypeVar('T')

class Box(Generic[T]):
    def __init__(self, content: T):
        self.content = content

    def get_content(self) -> T:
        return self.content

This Box class can hold any type of content.

Are there any limitations to using generics in Python?

Yes, Python's generics are not as strict as in some other languages. They are mainly for type hinting and do not enforce type checks at runtime.