What are the performance characteristics of generic collections in programming?

What are the performance characteristics of generic collections in programming?

Generic collections, like lists and dictionaries, offer type safety and can improve performance by reducing boxing/unboxing.

How do they compare to non-generic collections?

Non-generic collections can be slower due to boxing and type checks at runtime, while generics are optimized for specific types.

Are there any scenarios where non-generic collections might be better?

Yes, non-generic collections can be useful in scenarios requiring flexibility with different data types or when working with legacy code.

What about memory usage between the two?

Generic collections typically use less memory because they avoid the overhead of boxing and can be more efficient in storage.

Can you give examples of generic collections in C#?

Sure! Examples include List<T>, Dictionary<TKey, TValue>, and HashSet<T>.