Intermediate C# - Generic Class

Generic class same as typical class in C# except Generic type. So what the f**k is generic type ? Generic type means it is not specified any particular type. Let’s see an example of an ordinary class

class MyOrdinaryClass{
    // properties and methods goes here
}

var myObj1 = new MyOrdinaryClass();

So what we did here, we have instantiated an object myObj1 type of MyOrdinaryClass.

Here is an example of generic class

class MyGenericClass <T> {
    // properties and methods goes here, no special same as ordinary class 
}

   var myObj2 = new MyGenericClass<int> ();
   var myObj3 = new MyGenericClass<string> ();

There must be a <T> after the name of generic class, this is how you have to define generic class.

Look at this example, we have instantiate the same class but with different type (integer and string)

So In simple term Generic class allow you to write class that can work with any data type.

The most common use of generic class is List Here is another example

 var obj1 = new MyGenericClass<int> ();
 var obj2 = new MyGenericClass<string> ();

 var Gobj1  = new List<string> ();
 var Gobj2 = new List<int> ();

sample program to follow :

    namespace GenericClass {

    class MyGenericClass <T> {
        public void sayHello ( ) {
            Console.WriteLine ("Hello World");
        }
    }


    class Program {
        static void Main ( string[] args ) {

            var myObj2 = new MyGenericClass<int> ();
            var myObj3 = new MyGenericClass<string> ();

            myObj2.sayHello ();
            myObj3.sayHello ();

            var obj1 = new MyGenericClass<int> ();
            var obj2 = new MyGenericClass<string> ();

            var Gobj1  = new List<string> ();
            var Gobj2 = new List<int> ();


            Console.ReadKey ();

        }
    }
}

Advantages of using Generic Class :

    1. Reusing same class multiple times 

    2. Performance 

    3. Type Safety 

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