How Does Java\'s Autoboxing and Unboxing Solve the Compatibility Issue Between Primitive Types and Generics?

Why Java Embraces Autoboxing and Unboxing

Java's autoboxing and unboxing mechanism plays a crucial role in facilitating type compatibility and addressing the distinction between primitive types and class references.

Primitive Types vs. Classes

Primitive variables store values, while class variables hold references to instances. However, only class references are interchangeable due to their uniform size and ability to be substituted. Primitive types, with their varying sizes, lack this interchangeability.

Generics and Type Erasure

Generics, which introduce type parameters, allow for flexible typing. However, due to Java's type erasure, all concrete types are compiled as List