What are some examples of generic programming?

What are some examples of generic programming?

Generic programming is a style of programming that allows algorithms to be written in a way that can work with any data type. Examples include templates in C++ and generics in Java.

Can you give me a specific example in C++?

Sure! Here's a simple example of a generic function in C++ that swaps two values:

template <typename T>
void swap(T &a, T &b) {
    T temp = a;
    a = b;
    b = temp;
}

This function can swap values of any type.

What about in Java?

In Java, you can use generics with classes and methods. For example, a generic method to find the maximum of two values can be written as:

public static <T extends Comparable<T>> T max(T a, T b) {
    return (a.compareTo(b) > 0) ? a : b;
}

Are there any advantages to using generic programming?

Yes, generic programming promotes code reusability, type safety, and can lead to more efficient code by reducing the need for type casting.