What is Generics in Swift? Write a program to make and use generics.

Ans :

Apple doc says: Generic code enables you to write flexible, reusable functions and types that can work with any type. You can write code that avoids duplication by using generics in most cases.

Code for Example :

 let intArray = [1,2,3,4,5] // type int

 let stringArray = [“abhi”, “iOS”] // type string

If we want to print all values, we have to make 2 functions accepting integer array or string array.
But using Generic, we can make 1 method accepting generic type.

 func printAnyArray<T>(arr:[T]) {

       arr.map { print($0) }

 }

 <T> after the function name represents a generic function. A generic function can work with whatever type. We can put whatever instead of T. T is placeholder type. We can use for dictionary like Dictionary<key,value> and for array like Array<element> .

Generic function with parameter type : 

//Declare

func anotherMethod<T, U> (first: T, second: U) { print("first one called")}

func anotherMethod<T> (first: T, second: T) { print("second one called")}

//Call

anotherMethod(first: 123, second: "456")  // T - Int, U - String

anotherMethod(first: 123, second: 456)  // T - Int

In above methods, we use different placeholder type in method1 and same placeholder type in method2. If out passing parameter types are different then 2nd method will be called, and if same then 1st method will be called.

Generic function with type constraints :

func middleVal<T>(array: [T]) -> T? {

  guard !array.isEmpty else { return nil }

  return array.sorted()[(array.count - 1) / 2]

}

   

Sometimes, we require specific types only i.e type which confirm comparable protocol

func middleVal<T: Comparable>(array: [T]) -> T? {

  guard !array.isEmpty else { return nil }

  return array.sorted()[(array.count - 1) / 2]

}

    

Above method will only accepts. int, float, double.

If you have any comment, question, or recommendation, feel free to post them in the comment section below!