Generics in C#

Generics is one of the most powerful and useful features of C#. It allows you to write code that is flexible and reusable. Generics make it possible to create classes, methods, and structures that work with different data types without requiring you to write separate code for each data type. In this article, we will explore the basics of generics in C# and how they can be used to write more efficient and flexible code.

What are Generics?

Generics in C# are a way of creating a single method or class that can work with different types of data. A generic method or class is defined with a type parameter that represents the type of data that will be used in the method or class. This type parameter can be any valid C# data type.

The main advantage of using generics is that it allows you to write code that is more efficient, flexible, and reusable. By creating generic classes and methods, you can avoid the need to write separate code for different data types. This can save a lot of time and effort, especially when working with large and complex codebases.

How do Generics Work?

Generics in C# work by using placeholders that are replaced with actual data types when the code is compiled. The placeholder is represented by a type parameter that is enclosed in angle brackets <>. The type parameter can be any valid C# data type.

Here is an example of a generic method that takes two arguments and returns their sum:

public static T Add<T>(T a, T b)
{
    dynamic da = a;
    dynamic db = b;
    return da + db;
}

In this example, the Add method is defined with a type parameter T. The dynamic keyword is used to convert the a and b arguments to dynamic data types. This allows the Add method to work with different data types. When the method is called, the actual data type is passed as the argument for the type parameter.

Here is an example of how the Add method can be used to add two integers and two strings:

int sum1 = Add<int>(3, 4);
string sum2 = Add<string>("hello", "world");

In the first example, the Add method is called with two integer arguments, and the return value is an integer. In the second example, the Add method is called with two string arguments, and the return value is a string.