y

nl
O
se
U
tre
en
Session: 10 C
h
ec

Generics
pt
rA
Fo

Version 1.0 © 2012 Aptech Limited.

 y
nl
 Explain Generics

O
se
 List ways of implementing Generics

U
Explain Template Function

tre


en
 Explain Template Class
C
h
 List advantages and disadvantages of Generics
ec
pt
rA
Fo

Version 1.0 © 2012 Aptech Limited. Object-Oriented Programming Concepts / Session 10 2

 y
nl
O
Generics allow creating data members and functions,
whose the type is not specified at compile time.

se
U
tre
The type of the value of a generic function or variable

en
is decided later based on value supplied by user.
C
h
ec
pt

It allows the programmer to define the behavior of the

rA

class without knowing the data type.

Fo

Version 1.0 © 2012 Aptech Limited. Object-Oriented Programming Concepts / Session 10 3

 y
nl
 The figure shows an example of generics.

O
se
U
tre
en
C
h
ec
pt
rA
Fo

Version 1.0 © 2012 Aptech Limited. Object-Oriented Programming Concepts / Session 10 4

 y
nl
 It does not have a specific type attached to the

O
parameters or even the return type.

se
 The type for the parameters is decided based on the

U
value passed by the user at runtime.

tre
Syntax

en
<access-modifier> <T> <method-name>
(<T> <parameter-name>,..) C
h
{
ec

// processing statements
pt

<return-value (or expression)>

rA

}
Fo

Version 1.0 © 2012 Aptech Limited. Object-Oriented Programming Concepts / Session 10 5

 y
nl
Template class consists of a generic type declaration.

O
se
U
The generic type introduces a type variable named ‘T’

tre
which can be used anywhere inside the class.

en
Syntax
C
<access-modifier> class <class-name> <T>
h
ec

{
<data-members>
pt
rA

<methods>
Fo

}
Version 1.0 © 2012 Aptech Limited. Object-Oriented Programming Concepts / Session 10 6
 y
nl
 Generics allow a programmer to create classes with

O
flexibility in applying the data type.

se
U
 The data type is decided when the object is created

tre
and not when the class is created.

en
 Generics allow overloading of template functions with
parameters of unspecified types. C
h
ec

 The main benefit of generics is late binding of the

pt

types.
rA
Fo

Version 1.0 © 2012 Aptech Limited. Object-Oriented Programming Concepts / Session 10 7

 y
nl
 The most common use of generics is the creation of

O
typed Collections such as List, Stack, and Array

se
U
 The compiler determines the type associated with the

tre
template that can perform all the required functions

en
C
h
ec
pt
rA
Fo

Version 1.0 © 2012 Aptech Limited. Object-Oriented Programming Concepts / Session 10 8

 y
nl
 Some compilers have poor support for templates.

O
se
 Some compilers lack in clear description when they

U
detect a template error.

tre
 The compiler usually generates additional code for

en
each template type.
C
h
 Nested templates are not supported by all compilers.
ec
pt

 The use of ‘less-than’ and ‘greater-than’ signs as

rA

delimiters causes problems.

Fo

Version 1.0 © 2012 Aptech Limited. Object-Oriented Programming Concepts / Session 10 9

 y
nl
 Generics provides a way of creating general purpose

O
tools for applying them to specific situations by making

se
relevant changes.

U
tre
 Generics is also known as templates in C++.

en
 A template function is a method that does not have a
C
specific type attached to the parameters or even the
h
ec

return type.
pt
rA
Fo

Version 1.0 © 2012 Aptech Limited. Object-Oriented Programming Concepts / Session 10 10

 y
nl
 A template class introduces a type variable 'T' which

O
can be used as a type with the data members and

se
methods of a class.

U
tre
 Generics allow overloading of template functions with

en
parameters of unspecified types.

 C
The language C++ uses the keyword ‘template’ to
h
ec

indicate that a class is a template class using generics.

pt

The most common use of generics is the creation of

rA

typed Collections such as List, Stack, and Array.

Fo

Version 1.0 © 2012 Aptech Limited. Object-Oriented Programming Concepts / Session 10 11