One of the powerful features of Java generics is the ability to create generic classes and methods that can operate on any type without sacrificing type safety. This allows us to write reusable code that can be used with multiple types without the need for casting.
When we create a generic class or method, we often want to instantiate objects of that class with different type arguments. This flexibility allows us to use the same generic code with different data types without having to create separate classes for each type.
To instantiate a generic object with a specific type argument, we can use angle brackets (<>
) after the class name to provide the type argument. For example, if we have a generic class called MyGenericClass
, we can provide a specific type argument like this:
MyGenericClass<Integer> myObject = new MyGenericClass<>();
In this example, we are instantiating a MyGenericClass
object with the type argument Integer
. This means that the object will operate on and store values of type Integer
.
Similarly, if we want to use a different type argument, we can simply replace Integer
with the desired type. For instance:
MyGenericClass<String> myObject = new MyGenericClass<>();
In this case, we are instantiating a MyGenericClass
object with the type argument String
. Now the object will work with and store values of type String
.
It's important to note that when we instantiate a generic object with a specific type argument, the type argument must be a non-primitive type. In other words, we cannot use primitive types like int
or boolean
as type arguments. However, we can use their corresponding wrapper classes such as Integer
or Boolean
.
Moreover, it is also possible to instantiate generic objects with multiple type arguments. The syntax for this is similar; we just need to provide multiple type arguments separated by commas. For example:
MyGenericClass<String, Integer> myObject = new MyGenericClass<>();
In this case, we have instantiated a MyGenericClass
object with two type arguments: String
and Integer
. Now the object can work with values of both these types.
In conclusion, Java generics allow us to instantiate generic objects with different type arguments, providing flexibility and reusability in our code. By using the angle brackets syntax, we can easily specify the desired type arguments when creating objects of generic classes. This feature simplifies the development process, promotes type safety, and enhances overall code organization and maintainability.
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