What are generics in programming?

Can you explain what generics are in programming?

Sure! Generics allow you to write flexible and reusable code by defining classes, interfaces, or methods with a placeholder for the data type.

Why are generics useful?

Generics provide type safety, reduce code duplication, and improve code readability by allowing you to work with different data types without losing the benefits of strong typing.

Can you give me an example of generics in Java?

Absolutely! In Java, you can define a generic class like this: class Box<T> { private T item; public void setItem(T item) { this.item = item; } public T getItem() { return item; } } This allows Box to hold any type of object.

Are there any downsides to using generics?

One downside is that generics can introduce complexity, especially for beginners. Additionally, type erasure in Java means that some type information is lost at runtime.