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Generics vs boxing

Answer 1

+5 A:

If a class was written correctly, then using generics will avoid all boxing and unboxing. Instead, the just-in-time compiler will generate code for each version of the class that correctly handles the value types appropriately.

Jeffrey L Whitledge 2010-03-10 23:53:50

+1 for explicitly mentioning value types.

overslacked 2010-03-10 23:55:45

-1 a class was/is never boxed or unboxed - boxing is for value types only. The advantage of generics for class objects is strong typing, not no-boxing.

pm100 2010-03-11 01:22:19

@pm100 : by "each version of the class" I mean the generic class. It has a different version for each type supplied as a parameter. The JIT creates different code for each value type supplied. It also creates a single version that handles all of the reference types.

Jeffrey L Whitledge 2010-03-11 01:39:18

Answer 2

+4 A:

If you use it correctly then: Yes, it will eliminate boxing.

For instance,

List<int> table = new List<int>();
table.Add(1);
int x = table[0];

does not involve any boxing/unboxing.

Henk Holterman 2010-03-10 23:54:07

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