What Do Angle Brackets () Mean in Java Generics?

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Understanding Angle Brackets () in Java

Learning Java can be daunting, especially when encountering unfamiliar syntax like angle brackets (<>). This article aims to clarify their significance in the context of generic programming.

In Java, angle brackets denote generics. As the example provided illustrates, typically represents a variable type. However, the specific meaning of depends on its placement:

1. Defining Classes (e.g., Pool)

When defining a class like Pool, the signifies that it can accommodate objects of a specific type. For instance, Pool would allow you to create objects that manipulate strings.

2. Using Containers (e.g., ArrayList)

Generics are extensively used in containers like ArrayList. ArrayList indicates that it can store elements of type T. This ensures that you can only add elements of that particular type, maintaining the type safety of the collection.

Conclusion

Understanding the meaning of angle brackets in Java is crucial for leveraging generics. Generics enable you to write code that is independent of specific data types, making it more flexible and reusable.

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