What are generics in collections?

What are generics in collections?

Generics in collections allow you to define classes, interfaces, and methods with a placeholder for the data type. This enables type safety and code reusability.

Can you give me an example of how to use generics in a list?

Sure! In Java, you can create a list of integers like this: List<Integer> intList = new ArrayList<>(); This ensures that only integers can be added to the list.

What are the benefits of using generics?

The benefits include type safety, code reusability, and eliminating the need for casting when retrieving elements from collections.

Are there any downsides to using generics?

One downside is that generics can complicate the code and may lead to performance issues in some cases due to type erasure.

How do generics work with inheritance?

Generics can work with inheritance by allowing you to create generic classes that can extend other generic classes, maintaining type safety across the hierarchy.