What are the benefits of generics in C#?

What are the benefits of using generics in C#?

Generics in C# provide type safety, code reusability, and performance improvements. They allow you to define classes, methods, and interfaces with a placeholder for the data type.

Can you explain how generics improve type safety?

Sure! Generics ensure that you can only use a specific data type with a class or method, reducing runtime errors and increasing code reliability.

What about performance? How do generics help with that?

Generics improve performance by eliminating the need for boxing and unboxing when using value types, which can significantly enhance execution speed.

Are there any downsides to using generics?

While generics are powerful, they can add complexity to your code and may lead to longer compile times. It's important to use them judiciously.

Can you give me an example of a generic class?

Certainly! A simple example is a generic list: List<T> where T can be any data type, allowing you to create a list of integers, strings, or any custom type.