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Java Generics

This document provides an overview of Java generics, introduced in Java 5, highlighting their benefits such as type safety, code reuse, and elimination of casts. It discusses key concepts including generic methods, bounded type parameters, wildcards, and enhancements in Java 21 like pattern matching and virtual threads. The tutorial emphasizes the importance of mastering generics for writing clean and maintainable Java code.

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Tiago Garcia
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2 views

Java Generics

This document provides an overview of Java generics, introduced in Java 5, highlighting their benefits such as type safety, code reuse, and elimination of casts. It discusses key concepts including generic methods, bounded type parameters, wildcards, and enhancements in Java 21 like pattern matching and virtual threads. The tutorial emphasizes the importance of mastering generics for writing clean and maintainable Java code.

Uploaded by

Tiago Garcia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction Java templates, officially known as generics, allow developers to write flexible,

reusable, and type-safe code. Introduced in Java 5, generics have continued to evolve. This
tutorial explores how to effectively use generics in the latest Java release (Java 21), including
enhancements such as improved type inference, pattern matching for generics, and virtual
threads that indirectly impact generic-based API design.

1. What Are Generics? Generics allow you to parameterize types. Instead of working with
Object types and performing unsafe casting, you can define a class, interface, or method that
operates on a specified type.

Example: A Generic Box

class Box<T> {
private T value;

public void set(T value) {


this.value = value;
}

public T get() {
return value;
}
}

2. Why Use Generics?

●​ Type Safety: Catches type errors at compile time.


●​ Elimination of Casts: Reduces need for explicit casting.
●​ Code Reuse: Works with different data types without duplication.

3. Generic Methods You can define methods with generic type parameters.

public <T> void printArray(T[] array) {


for (T element : array) {
System.out.println(element);
}
}
4. Bounded Type Parameters Use bounded types to restrict the kinds of types that can be
used.

<T extends Number> void sum(T a, T b) {


System.out.println(a.doubleValue() + b.doubleValue());
}

5. Wildcards Wildcards add flexibility in specifying unknown types.

List<?> anyList = new ArrayList<String>();

●​ ? : Unknown type
●​ ? extends T : Upper bound wildcard
●​ ? super T : Lower bound wildcard

Example: Reading from a List

public void printList(List<? extends Number> list) {


for (Number n : list) {
System.out.println(n);
}
}

6. Generics and Inheritance Generic types are invariant:

List<Object> != List<String>

Use wildcards to work around this.

7. Type Inference (Java 8+) Java can often infer the type parameters.

Box<Integer> box = new Box<>();

8. Enhancements in Java 21 and Beyond

Pattern Matching with Generics (Preview Feature): Java 21 introduces pattern matching in
instanceof, improving readability with generics.

if (obj instanceof Box<Integer> b) {


System.out.println("Box holds an Integer: " + b.get());
}
Record Classes with Generics:

public record Pair<T, U>(T first, U second) {}

Virtual Threads & Generics (Project Loom): While not directly related, virtual threads allow
generic-based APIs to scale better.

9. Common Pitfalls

●​ Type Erasure: Generic types are erased at runtime.


●​ Cannot Create Generic Arrays: new T[] is not allowed.
●​ No Primitive Types: Use wrappers (Integer, Double) instead of primitives.

10. Conclusion Generics remain a cornerstone of modern Java programming, enabling


powerful abstractions and safer APIs. With each release, Java adds features that make working
with generics more seamless and expressive. Mastering them is essential for writing clean,
reusable, and maintainable Java code.

References

●​ Oracle Java Documentation (https://docs.oracle.com)


●​ Java Language Specification
●​ Project Loom (https://openjdk.org/projects/loom/)

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