What are generic classes in Python?

What are generic classes in Python?

Generic classes in Python allow you to define classes that can operate on different data types while maintaining type safety.

Can you give me an example of a generic class?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

from typing import TypeVar, Generic

T = TypeVar('T')

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

    def get_item(self) -> T:
        return self.item

This Box class can hold any type of item.

How do I use this Box class?

You can use the Box class like this:

int_box = Box(123)
str_box = Box('Hello')

print(int_box.get_item())  # Outputs: 123
print(str_box.get_item())  # Outputs: Hello

What are the benefits of using generic classes?

Generic classes promote code reusability and type safety, allowing you to write more flexible and maintainable code.