Java generics: multiple generic parameters?

java generics parameters
atp picture atp · Nov 18, 2009 · Viewed 155.1k times · Source

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?

Answer

oxbow_lakes picture oxbow_lakes · Nov 18, 2009

Yes - it's possible (though not with your method signature) and yes, with your signature the types must be the same.

With the signature you have given, T must be associated to a single type (e.g. String or Integer) at the call-site. You can, however, declare method signatures which take multiple type parameters 

public <S, T> void func(Set<S> s, Set<T> t)

Note in the above signature that I have declared the types S and T in the signature itself. These are therefore different to and independent of any generic types associated with the class or interface which contains the function. 

public class MyClass<S, T> {
   public        void foo(Set<S> s, Set<T> t); //same type params as on class
   public <U, V> void bar(Set<U> s, Set<V> t); //type params independent of class
}

You might like to take a look at some of the method signatures of the collection classes in the java.util package. Generics is really rather a complicated subject, especially when wildcards (? extends and ? super) are considered. For example, it's often the case that a method which might take a Set<Number> as a parameter should also accept a Set<Integer>. In which case you'd see a signature like this:

public void baz(Set<? extends T> s);

There are plenty of questions already on SO for you to look at on the subject!

Not sure what the point of returning an int from the function is, although you could do that if you want!

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