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Shreyans Padmani
Shreyans Padmani

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Generics and Non-Generics

In C#, Generics and Non-Generics represent two different approaches to handling data types in collections and methods. Understanding the difference helps you write type-safe, efficient, and scalable code.

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Generics

  • Type-Safe: You define the data type when using it.
  • No Casting Needed: Prevents runtime errors due to invalid type casting.
  • Reusable: Write code that works with any data type.
  • Compile-Time Checking: Errors are caught early.

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Non-Generics

  • Not Type-Safe: Uses object, so any type can be added.
  • Casting Needed: You must cast when retrieving items.
  • Risky: More prone to runtime errors.
  • Less Performance: Boxing/unboxing happens for value types.

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Understanding Generics vs Non-Generics in C#

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Conclusion
Using Generics in C# provides strong type safety, better performance, and cleaner, reusable code. Unlike Non-Generics, which rely on casting and are more error-prone at runtime, Generics allow developers to catch type-related issues at compile time and avoid unnecessary boxing and unboxing.

Whenever possible, prefer Generics for collections, methods, and classes to write robust, maintainable, and efficient applications in C#.

Top comments (3)

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nevodavid profile image
Nevo David

Love when stuff like this actually saves me from a stupid runtime bug.

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dotallio profile image
Dotallio

Totally agree, catching type errors at compile time has saved me headaches more times than I can count. Do you have a favorite scenario where generics made your code cleaner?

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