Generics were added to version 2.0 of the C# language and the common language runtime (CLR). Generics introduce to the .NET Framework the concept of type parameters, which make it possible to design classes and methods that defer the specification of one or more types until the class or method is declared and instantiated by client code. For example, by using a generic type parameter T you can write a single class that other client code can use without incurring the cost or risk of runtime casts or boxing operations, as shown here:
Use generic types to maximize code reuse, type safety, and performance.
The most common use of generics is to create collection classes.
The .NET Framework class library contains several new generic collection classes in theSystem.Collections.Generic namespace. These should be used whenever possible instead of classes such asArrayList in theSystem.Collections namespace.
You can create your own generic interfaces, classes, methods, events and delegates.
Generic classes may be constrained to enable access to methods on particular data types.
Information on the types that are used in a generic data type may be obtained at run-time by using reflection.
For more information, see theC# Language Specification.
