What are generics in Python and how do I use them?

What are generics in Python and how do I use them?

Generics in Python allow you to define functions and classes that can operate on different types without losing type safety. You can use the typing module to create generic types.

Can you give me an example of a generic function?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

from typing import TypeVar, List

T = TypeVar('T')

def get_first_element(elements: List[T]) -> T:
    return elements[0]

This function takes a list of any type and returns the first element.

How do I create a generic class?

You can create a generic class similarly. Here's an example:

from typing import TypeVar, Generic

T = TypeVar('T')

class Box(Generic[T]):
    def __init__(self, content: T):
        self.content = content

    def get_content(self) -> T:
        return self.content

This Box class can hold any type of content.

Are there any limitations to using generics in Python?

Yes, Python's generics are not as strict as in some other languages. You can still pass any type, but using type hints helps with readability and type checking.