What are generics in C# and how do they work?

What are generics in C# and how do they work?

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

Can you give me an example of a generic class?

Sure! Here's a simple example of a generic class:

public class GenericList<T> {
    private T[] items;
    private int count;

    public void Add(T item) {
        // Add item to the list
    }
}

What are the benefits of using generics?

The benefits include type safety, code reusability, and performance improvements since generics eliminate the need for boxing and unboxing.

Are there any drawbacks to using generics?

One drawback is that generics can lead to more complex code and may be harder to understand for beginners. Additionally, you cannot use certain types like int directly; you must use int? or Nullable<int>.