C# generics
last modified July 5, 2023
In this article we show how to define and use generics in C#. In generic programming, we use custom types as parameters to define other custom types.
Generics were added in C# 2.0.
Generics are classes, structures, interfaces, and methods that have placeholders (type parameters) for one or more of the types that they store or use. A generic collection class might use a type parameter as a placeholder for the type of objects that it stores.
Generic type names are provided after the class, structure, interface, or method name in angle brackets. This syntax tells the compiler that such a name is used in the definition.
By convention, the type parameters use capital letters such as T,
U, or TKey, and TValue.
In effect, we delay the specification of the data type until it is actually used in the program. Generics enable us to write code that works with a variety of types without repeating the code for each type.
void Swap<T>(ref T lhs, ref T rhs)
We have a definition of a generic method. The T parameter is later
replaced with a concrete type such as int or string at
the calling side.
Generics area abstract blueprints, they cannot be used as-is; when we use a generic class or method, we have to instantiate them with a specific data type that is substituted to the matching placeholder.
.NET provides an large set of interfaces and classes in the
System.Collections.Generic namespace for implementing generic
collections.
Generics provide the following advantages:
- Reusability
- Type safety
- Improved performance
One generic method/class definition can be used for various types, thus reducing the amount of code needed. Generics provide type safety; the compiler checks at compile time that correct types are being provided. Generic types provide better performance because they reduce the need for boxing, unboxing, type checking, and typecasting of variables or objects.
C# generic method
In the following example, we define a generic Swap method.
int x = 10;
int y = 20;
char a = 'x';
char b = 'y';
Swap<int>(ref x, ref y);
Swap<char>(ref a, ref b);
Console.WriteLine($"x = {x}, y = {y}");
Console.WriteLine($"a = {a}, b = {b}");
void Swap<T>(ref T lhs, ref T rhs)
{
T temp = lhs;
lhs = rhs;
rhs = temp;
}
The Swap method exchanges the values of two variables. There is
one definition of a generic Swap method, but is is used for two
different types.
Swap<int>(ref x, ref y); Swap<char>(ref a, ref b);
We call the Swap method for integer values and char values. The
type specification for the method is optional since compiler can infer the types
from the parameters.
void Swap<T>(ref T lhs, ref T rhs)
{
T temp = lhs;
lhs = rhs;
rhs = temp;
}
Capital T is used as a placeholder, which is at compile time
replaced with a specific type.
$ dotnet run x = 20, y = 10 a = y, b = x
Next we have a generic Debug method. It prints the type and the
value of the passed generic parameter.
string s = "falcon";
bool b = true;
int i = 42;
float f = 4.4f;
double d = 2.0;
Debug<string>(s);
Debug<bool>(b);
Debug<int>(i);
Debug<float>(f);
Debug<double>(d);
void Debug<T>(T arg)
{
Type type = arg.GetType();
if (type == typeof(string))
{
Console.WriteLine($"[String]: {arg}");
} else if (type == typeof(bool)) {
Console.WriteLine($"[Boolean]: {arg}");
} else if (type == typeof(int)) {
Console.WriteLine($"[Integer]: {arg}");
} else if (type == typeof(float)) {
Console.WriteLine($"[Float]: {arg}");
} else if (type == typeof(double)) {
Console.WriteLine($"[Double]: {arg}");
}
}
To get the type of the parameter, we use the GetType method.
$ dotnet run [String]: falcon [Boolean]: True [Integer]: 42 [Float]: 4.4 [Double]: 2
In the next example, we create a method that randomly shuffles a list.
var rng = new Random();
var vals = new List<int> { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 };
var words = new List<string> { "sky", "blue", "war", "toy", "tick" };
Shuffle<int>(vals);
Shuffle<string>(words);
foreach (var e in vals)
{
Console.Write($"{e} ");
}
Console.WriteLine("\n-----------------------");
foreach (var e in words)
{
Console.Write($"{e} ");
}
Console.WriteLine();
void Shuffle<T>(IList<T> vals)
{
int n = vals.Count;
while (n > 1)
{
n--;
int k = rng.Next(n + 1);
T value = vals[k];
vals[k] = vals[n];
vals[n] = value;
}
}
We shuffle an a list of integers and words.
$ dotnet run 6 2 3 1 4 5 ----------------------- toy war sky blue tick $ dotnet run 2 5 1 4 3 6 ----------------------- war sky blue toy tick
Next we create methods for list access.
var vals = new List<int> { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 };
var words = new List<string> { "sky", "blue", "war", "toy", "tick" };
Console.WriteLine(First(vals));
Console.WriteLine(Second(vals));
Console.WriteLine(Last(vals));
Console.WriteLine(SecondLast(vals));
Console.WriteLine("--------------");
Console.WriteLine(First(words));
Console.WriteLine(Second(words));
Console.WriteLine(Last(words));
Console.WriteLine(SecondLast(words));
T First<T>(IList<T> items) => items[0];
T Second<T>(IList<T> items) => items[1];
T Last<T>(IList<T> items) => items[^1];
T SecondLast<T>(IList<T> items) => items[^2];
In the example, we have four generic methods to get the first, second, last, and last but one elements of the list.
Console.WriteLine(First(vals)); Console.WriteLine(Second(vals)); ...
The compiler infers the type of the parameter based on the value we pass to the
method; therefore, specifying type (e.g. First<int>) is
optional.
$ dotnet run 1 2 6 5 -------------- sky blue tick toy
C# generic delegate
In the following example, we define a generic delegate. The dynamic
keyword tells compiler that the type of its variable is specified at runtime.
var mv1 = new ModifyVal<int>(Inc);
var mv2 = new ModifyVal<int>(Dec);
var mv3 = new ModifyVal<float>(Inc);
var mv4 = new ModifyVal<float>(Dec);
Console.WriteLine(mv1(7));
Console.WriteLine(mv2(7));
Console.WriteLine(mv3(8f));
Console.WriteLine(mv4(8f));
T Inc<T>(T val)
{
dynamic x = val;
return ++x;
}
T Dec<T>(T val)
{
dynamic x = val;
return --x;
}
delegate T ModifyVal<T>(T fn);
We define a generic delegate ModifyVal; it is used to refer to
two generic methods: Inc and Dec.
T Inc<T>(T val)
{
dynamic x = val;
return ++x;
}
The Inc is a generic method; it takes a generic parameter and
returns a generic value. The dynamic keyword helps simplify the
code: we do not have to do type checking here.
delegate T ModifyVal<T>(T fn);
This is the definition of the generic delegate.
$ dotnet run 8 6 9 7
C# generic class
Next, we define a generic class.
var ds1 = new DataStore<string>();
ds1.Data = "an old falcon";
Console.WriteLine(ds1);
var ds2 = new DataStore<int>();
ds2.Data = 23;
Console.WriteLine(ds2);
var ds3 = new DataStore<bool>();
ds3.Data = false;
Console.WriteLine(ds3);
class DataStore<T>
{
public T Data { get; set; }
public override string ToString()
{
return Data.ToString();
}
}
The example stores a value in a generic field.
$ dotnet run an old falcon 23 False
C# generic FindAll
In the next example, we define a FindAll list extension method.
public static class ExtensionMethods
{
public static List<T> FindAll<T>(this List<T> vals, List<Predicate<T>> preds)
{
List<T> data = new List<T>();
foreach (T e in vals)
{
bool pass = true;
foreach (Predicate<T> p in preds)
{
if (!(p(e)))
{
pass = false;
break;
}
}
if (pass) data.Add(e);
}
return data;
}
}
The FindAll method returns list elements that fill all the
specified predicates.
public static List<T> FindAll<T>(this List<T> vals, List<Predicate<T>> preds)
The FindAll method takes a list of generic predicate functions as
a parameter. It returns a filtered generic list.
var preds = new List<Predicate<int>>();
preds.Add(e => e > 0);
preds.Add(e => e % 2 == 0);
var vals = new List<int> {-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4};
var filtered = vals.FindAll(preds);
foreach (var e in filtered)
{
Console.WriteLine(e);
}
Console.WriteLine("---------------------");
var words = new List<string> {"sky", "wrath", "wet", "sun", "pick", "who",
"cloud", "war", "water", "jump", "ocean"};
var preds2 = new List<Predicate<string>>();
preds2.Add(e => e.StartsWith("w"));
preds2.Add(e => e.Length == 3);
var filtered2 = words.FindAll(preds2);
foreach (var e in filtered2)
{
Console.WriteLine(e);
}
We define two lists: an integer list and a string list. From the integer list, we filter out all positive even values. From the string list, we get all words that start with 'w' and have three letters.
$ dotnet run 2 4 --------------------- wet who war
C# generic constraints
The where clause in a generic definition specifies constraints on
the types that are used as arguments for type parameters in a generic type.
var animals = new List<Animal<Cat>>
{
new Animal<Cat>(),
new Animal<Cat>(),
new Animal<Cat>()
};
foreach (var animal in animals)
{
Console.WriteLine(animal);
}
interface IAnimal { }
class Cat : IAnimal { }
class Lion : IAnimal { }
class Dog : IAnimal { }
class Flower {}
class Animal<T> where T : IAnimal { }
In the example, we define an Animal class that restricts the
T type to be of IAnimal.
C# generic list iterator
The following example creates a generic iterator.
var words = new List<string> { "sky", "cloud", "rock", "war", "web" };
var it = CreateIterator(words);
string e;
while ((e = it()) != null)
{
Console.WriteLine(e);
}
Iterator<T> CreateIterator<T>(IList<T> data) where T : class
{
var i = 0;
return delegate { return (i < data.Count) ? data[i++] : null; };
}
public delegate T Iterator<T>() where T : class;
An iterator uses an anonymous delegate.
$ dotnet run sky cloud rock war web
C# generic list forEach
The following example creates a generic forEach method for a list container.
Action<int> show = Console.WriteLine;
var vals = new List<int> { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 };
forEach(vals, show);
Console.WriteLine("--------------------------");
var words = new List<string> { "sky", "cloud", "rock", "water" };
forEach(words, Console.WriteLine);
Console.WriteLine("--------------------------");
var users = new List<User>
{
new ("John Doe", "gardener"),
new ("Roger Roe", "driver"),
};
forEach(users, Console.WriteLine);
void forEach<T>(IList<T> vals, Action<T> fn)
{
foreach (T val in vals)
{
fn(val);
}
}
record User(string Name, string Occupation);
The generic forEach method goes over integer, string, and User
elements of three list containers.
void forEach<T>(IList<T> vals, Action<T> fn)
The forEach method takes a generic list and a generic
Action delegate as parameters.
$ dotnet run
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
--------------------------
sky
cloud
rock
water
--------------------------
User { Name = John Doe, Occupation = gardener }
User { Name = Roger Roe, Occupation = driver }
C# generic dictionary ForEach
In the next example, we create a generic ForEach method for
a dictionary.
var domains = new Dictionary<string, string>
{
{"sk", "Slovakia"},
{"ru", "Russia"},
{"de", "Germany"},
{"no", "Norway"}
};
domains.ForEach((k, v) => Console.WriteLine($"{k} - {v}"));
var vals = new Dictionary<int, string>
{
{1, "coin"},
{2, "pen"},
{3, "pencil"},
{4, "book"}
};
vals.ForEach((k, v) => Console.WriteLine($"{k} - {v}"));
static class DictionaryExtension
{
public static void ForEach<T1, T2>(this Dictionary<T1, T2> dict, Action<T1, T2> fn) {
foreach(KeyValuePair<T1, T2> pair in dict) {
fn(pair.Key, pair.Value);
}
}
}
The ForEach method is defined as an extension method. In the
Action delegate, we use the foreach loop to go over
the pairs of the dictionary.
$ dotnet run sk - Slovakia ru - Russia de - Germany no - Norway 1 - coin 2 - pen 3 - pencil 4 - book
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