Generic Types
Generic types are a programming language feature that allows developers to write code that can work with multiple data types while maintaining type safety. They enable the creation of reusable components, functions, or classes that operate on a variety of types without sacrificing compile-time type checking. This concept is widely implemented in statically-typed languages to enhance code flexibility and reduce redundancy.
Developers should learn and use generic types when building reusable libraries, data structures (like lists or maps), or utility functions that need to handle different data types consistently. They are essential in scenarios requiring type-safe collections, algorithm implementations (e.g., sorting), or API designs where type parameters improve maintainability and reduce errors, such as in Java's Collections framework or C#'s LINQ.