What are bounded types in generics?

What are bounded types in generics?

Bounded types in generics allow you to restrict the types that can be used as type arguments. This is useful for ensuring type safety.

Can you give me an example of bounded types in Java?

Sure! In Java, you can use the extends keyword to create a bounded type. For example, class Box<T extends Number> means T can be any subclass of Number.

What happens if I don't use bounded types?

Without bounded types, you might end up with type errors at runtime, as the compiler won't enforce any restrictions on the type arguments.

Are there any performance implications of using bounded types?

Generally, there are no significant performance implications. Bounded types mainly provide compile-time type safety without runtime overhead.