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Generic Types in C# 2.0 with Sample DynamicPDF™ product line allows you
Posted by Abhishek Bhatore in Articles | C# Language on August 01, 2005 to dynamically generate PDF
Tags: .NET, C# 2.0, Generic Types, GenericList Class, Memory Consumption documents, merge PDF documents and
add new content to existing PDF
This article discusses generic types available in C# 2.0. The article also shows some sample source code documents from within your
applications.
on how to use generic types.

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Download Files: GenericType.zip

Generic Types

Generics are the most powerful feature of C# 2.0. It allows defining type-safe data structures,
without committing to actual data types. In C# 1.0 we can either declare reference type or value
type. But in most of the application we come across situation where we need type that can hold
both reference & value type. In such situation we use generic types.

Why Generics?
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1. Generic type doesn't care what the type is. We can specify the type at runtime.
Object Oriented Design Principles
2. It avoids boxing difficulties. In C# 1.0, if we want to put any object into a List, Stack, or
Queue objects, we have to take type as System.Object. Tips & Tricks - Compare Database Project in Solution
3. It boosts the performance of the application because we can reuse data processing algorithm With SQL Server Database
without duplicating type-specific code. Caching in ASP.NET

How Generic implemented: Animation in WPF

Unit Test Automation With Visual Studio
(1) Generic type is instantiated at run-time not compiled time
(2) Generic type are checked at time of declaration not at instantiation Using LINQ in .NET
(3) It works for both reference type & value type. ASP.NET Application Life Cycle
Create a Android Project With Eclipse
Let's create simple class "GenericList" using C# 1.0 & 2.0 respectively & compare them.
Introduction to Windows Store Apps
FileSystem Function in PHP: PART 8
Code GenericList Class (C# 1.0)
View All
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text; MOST LIKED ARTICLE
public class GenericList
WCF Introduction and Contracts - Day 1
{
private object[] elements; Create SSRS Report Using Report Wizard
private int count; CREATE READ UPDATE and DELETE - CRUD Operation Using
public GenericList() LINQ to SQL
{
elements = new object[10]; WCF - Data Contract - Day 4
} WCF - Difference Between Service Application and Service
public object this[int index] Library: Day 5
{
get { return elements[index]; } Follow @csharpcorner 4,032 follow ers
set { elements[index] = value; }
}
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public void Add (object parm)
{
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if (count == elements.Length)
{ Like
// Increase the
object[] tmpArray = null ;
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elements.CopyTo(tmpArray,0);
elements = new object[count * 2];
elements = tmpArray;
}
elements[count] = parm;
count = count + 1;
}
}
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Main Method:

static void Main(string[] args)

{ HOT KEYWORDS
Console.WriteLine("using C# 1.0");
GenericList list = new GenericList();

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4/17/13 Generic Types in C# 2.0 with Sample
list.Add(20); //Argument is boxed
list.Add(40); //Argument is boxed
list.Add("Sixty"); //Error in retrieving
Abstract Class ArrayList
Boxing Console Constructors enum EventHandler
Console.WriteLine("Item Added");
int val = (int)list[0]; //Casting required FileStream Hashtable
Extension Methods
Console.WriteLine("Value retrived : " + val);
} inheritance Interfaces List objectdatasource
Memory Consumption OOP Sorting StreamReader StreamWriter

In C# 1.0 boxing is necessary evil to make type system work. While working with structures of
System.Collection namespace (Stacks,List,Hashtable etc) we face the problem in insertion &
Thread unboxing
Class Strings System.Text

User Controls visual studio Visual

retrieval of values. We need to take System.object as type & System.object is reference type, so
whenever we access the hashtable, the runtime has to box the values to put into the collection &
need to unbox to take it out.
Studio 2005
list.Add(20); //Argument is boxed

In C# int takes 4 byte but when it boxed it take (4+8) 12 bytes, which is 3 times to normal size.
In C# 2.0 the type is decided at runtime so boxing does not take place. SPONSORED BY

Type Safe File APIs for Programmers

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When we use the statement combine files. Manage DOC, XLS, PPT, PDF,
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list.Add ("Sixty"); or List [3] = "sixty";

It compiles successfully but later on if some one pulls value and cast it into integer it fails. The
problem is fixed in C# 2.0; we will get compilation error there.

Code GenericList Class (C# 2.0)

public class GenericList<T>

{
public GenericList()
{
elements = new T[10];
}
private T[] elements;
private int count;
public T this[int index]
{
get {return elements [index];}
set {elements [index] = value;}
} WHITEPAPERS AND BOOKS
public void Add (T parm) Interview Questions on SharePoint 2013
{
if (count == elements.Length) SharePoint 2010 Administration & Development
{ Getting Started with Managed Metadata Service in
T[] tmpArray = null; SharePoint 2010
elements.CopyTo(tmpArray, 0);
elements = new T [count * 2]; Windows Phone 7 Hileleri
elements = tmpArray; Windows Phone Development Step by Step Tutorial
}
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elements [count] = parm;
Capabilities
count = count + 1;
} Working with Directories in C#
} FileInfo in C#

Main Method: Programming List with C#

Source Code: Graphics Programming with GDI+
static void Main(string[] args)
{ View All
Console.WriteLine("using C# 1.0");
GenericList<int> genericList = new GenericList<int>(); POLL RESULT ALL POLLS
genericList.Add (10); //No boxing
genericList.Add (20); //No boxing Wi ndows vs . Web vs . Mobi l e
// genericList.Add("Fifty"); //Compile Time Error What do you work mostly these days?
Console.WriteLine("Item Added"); Web (ASP.NET, HTML) applications
int valGeneric = (int)genericList[0]; //No Casting Required
Console.WriteLine("Value retrived : " + valGeneric); Windows (WPF, Windows Forms) applications
} Mobile (iPhone, Android, Windows Phone) Apps

Some other Points: Windows 8 Apps

Vote
(1) Type parameter can be applied to Class, struct, interface & delegates.

struct Buket<K, V>;

interface ICompare<T>

(2) Type parameter can have constraints.

Constraint
Public class Books where T: struct
Public class Books where T: class
Public class Books where T: new( )
Public class Programmer where T:
<Employee>
Description
The type argument for class Books must be a value type
The type argument for class Books must be a reference
type
The type argument for class Books must have a public
default constructor
The type argument for class Programmer must be of
Employee type.

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