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C# Programming Guide

Generics are a new feature in version 2.0 of the C# language and the common language runtime (CLR). Generics introduce to the .NET Framework the concept of type parameters, which make it possible to design classes and methods that defer the specification of one or more types until the class or method is declared and instantiated by client code. For example, by using a generic type parameter T you can write a single class that other client code can use without incurring the cost or risk of runtime casts or boxing operations, as shown here:

// Declare the generic class
public class GenericList<T>
{
    void Add(T input) { }
}
class TestGenericList
{
    private class ExampleClass { }
    static void Main()
    {
        // Declare a list of type int
        GenericList<int> list1 = new GenericList<int>();

        // Declare a list of type string
        GenericList<string> list2 = new GenericList<string>();

        // Declare a list of type ExampleClass
        GenericList<ExampleClass> list3 = new GenericList<ExampleClass>();
    }
}

Generics Overview

• Use generic types to maximize code reuse, type safety, and performance.

• The most common use of generics is to create collection classes.

• The .NET Framework class library contains several new generic collection classes in the System.Collections.Generic namespace. These should be used whenever possible in place of classes such as ArrayList in the System.Collections namespace.

• You can create your own generic interfaces, classes, methods, events and delegates.

• Generic classes may be constrained to enable access to methods on particular data types.

• Information on the types used in a generic data type may be obtained at run-time by means of reflection.

Related Sections

For more information:

• Introduction to Generics (C# Programming Guide)

• Benefits of Generics (C# Programming Guide)

• Generic Type Parameters (C# Programming Guide)

• Constraints on Type Parameters (C# Programming Guide)

• Generic Classes (C# Programming Guide)

• Generic Interfaces (C# Programming Guide)

• Generic Methods (C# Programming Guide)

• Generic Delegates (C# Programming Guide)

• default Keyword in Generic Code (C# Programming Guide)

• Differences Between C++ Templates and C# Generics (C# Programming Guide)

• Generics and Reflection (C# Programming Guide)

• Generics in the Runtime (C# Programming Guide)

• Generics in the .NET Framework Class Library (C# Programming Guide)

• Generics Sample (C#)

C# Language Specification

See Also