I was wondering if it's possible to write a function that accepts multiple generic types as follows:
public int void myfunction(Set<T> a, Set<T> b) {
return 5;
}
Set<Integer> setA = new HashSet<Integer>();
Set<String> setB = new HashSet<String>();
int result = myfunction(setA, setB);
Will that work? Does the generic in each parameter mean that each parameter must have the same type T that's generic?
This question is related to
java
generics
parameters
You can declare multiple type variables on a type or method. For example, using type parameters on the method:
<P, Q> int f(Set<P>, Set<Q>) {
return 0;
}
You can follow one of the below approaches:
1) Basic, single type :
//One type
public static <T> void fill(List <T> list, T val) {
for(int i=0; i<list.size(); i++){
list.set(i, val);
}
}
2) Multiple Types :
// multiple types as parameters
public static <T1, T2> String multipleTypeArgument(T1 val1, T2 val2) {
return val1+" "+val2;
}
3) Below will raise compiler error as 'T3 is not in the listing of generic types that are used in function declaration part.
//Raised compilation error
public static <T1, T2> T3 returnTypeGeneric(T1 val1, T2 val2) {
return 0;
}
Correct : Compiles fine
public static <T1, T2, T3> T3 returnTypeGeneric(T1 val1, T2 val2) {
return 0;
}
Sample Class Code :
package generics.basics;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;
public class GenericMethods {
/*
Declare the generic type parameter T in this method.
After the qualifiers public and static, you put <T> and
then followed it by return type, method name, and its parameters.
Observe : type of val is 'T' and not '<T>'
* */
//One type
public static <T> void fill(List <T> list, T val) {
for(int i=0; i<list.size(); i++){
list.set(i, val);
}
}
// multiple types as parameters
public static <T1, T2> String multipleTypeArgument(T1 val1, T2 val2) {
return val1+" "+val2;
}
/*// Q: To audience -> will this compile ?
*
* public static <T1, T2> T3 returnTypeGeneric(T1 val1, T2 val2) {
return 0;
}*/
public static <T1, T2, T3> T3 returnTypeGeneric(T1 val1, T2 val2) {
return null;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
List<Integer> list = new ArrayList<>();
list.add(10);
list.add(20);
System.out.println(list.toString());
fill(list, 100);
System.out.println(list.toString());
List<String> Strlist = new ArrayList<>();
Strlist.add("Chirag");
Strlist.add("Nayak");
System.out.println(Strlist.toString());
fill(Strlist, "GOOD BOY");
System.out.println(Strlist.toString());
System.out.println(multipleTypeArgument("Chirag", 100));
System.out.println(multipleTypeArgument(100,"Nayak"));
}
}
// class definition ends
Sample Output:
[10, 20]
[100, 100]
[Chirag, Nayak]
[GOOD BOY, GOOD BOY]
Chirag 100
100 Nayak
Even more, you can inherit generics :)
@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
public <T extends Something<E>, E extends Enum<E> & SomethingAware> T getSomething(Class<T> clazz) {
return (T) somethingHolderMap.get(clazz);
}
In your function definition you're constraining sets a and b to the same type. You can also write
public <X,Y> void myFunction(Set<X> s1, Set<Y> s2){...}
a and b must both be sets of the same type. But nothing prevents you from writing
myfunction(Set<X> a, Set<Y> b)
Source: Stackoverflow.com