What are the differences between generics and interfaces in C#?

What are the differences between generics and interfaces in C#?

Generics allow you to define classes, methods, or interfaces with a placeholder for the data type, while interfaces define a contract that classes can implement. Generics provide type safety and code reusability, whereas interfaces focus on defining behaviors.

Can you give me an example of when to use generics?

Sure! You might use generics when creating a collection class, like a List<T>, where T can be any data type, allowing for type-safe operations without casting.

And what about interfaces? When should I use them?

Interfaces are useful when you want to define a common behavior for different classes. For example, if you have multiple classes that need to implement a method like 'Save()', you can define an interface 'ISavable' that enforces this method.

Are there any performance differences between using generics and interfaces?

Yes, generics can offer better performance because they avoid boxing and unboxing for value types, while interfaces may introduce some overhead due to polymorphism.