What is the impact of type erasure in programming languages?

What is the impact of type erasure in programming languages?

Type erasure refers to the process where type information is not retained at runtime. This can lead to issues like loss of type safety and difficulties in debugging.

Can you give an example of a language that uses type erasure?

Java is a common example. In Java, generics are implemented using type erasure, meaning the type parameters are removed during compilation.

What are the advantages of type erasure?

One advantage is that it allows for greater compatibility with older versions of the language and can lead to simpler runtime implementations.

Are there any disadvantages?

Yes, disadvantages include potential runtime errors due to type mismatches and the inability to use certain type-specific features.

How does type erasure affect performance?

Type erasure can improve performance by reducing the overhead of maintaining type information at runtime, but it may also lead to additional checks that can slow down execution.