Generics
Generics are a programming concept 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 is commonly implemented in statically-typed languages to reduce code duplication and enhance flexibility.
Developers should learn and use generics when building reusable libraries, data structures (like lists or maps), or algorithms that need to handle different data types without resorting to unsafe type casting or code duplication. They are essential in languages like Java, C#, TypeScript, and Rust for creating type-safe collections, utility functions, and APIs that adapt to various inputs, improving maintainability and reducing runtime errors.