What are the benefits of generics in Java?

What are the benefits of using generics in Java?

Generics in Java provide type safety, code reusability, and eliminate the need for casting. They help in creating classes, interfaces, and methods that operate on types specified by the user.

Can you explain how generics improve type safety?

Sure! Generics allow you to specify the type of objects a collection can hold, which helps catch type errors at compile time rather than at runtime.

What about code reusability? How does that work?

Generics enable you to write a single method or class that can work with different types, reducing code duplication and enhancing maintainability.

Are there any downsides to using generics?

One downside is that generics can introduce complexity in code, and they cannot be used with primitive types directly. You need to use their wrapper classes instead.

Can you give an example of a generic class?

Certainly! A simple example is a generic Box class that can hold any type of object. Here's a quick snippet:

public class Box<T> {
    private T item;
    public void setItem(T item) { this.item = item; }
    public T getItem() { return item; }
}