Advanced Java

It is also possible and supported to generify methods in Java.

Java Code: This is the code to expalin generic methods

public static <T> T add(T element, Collection<T> collection){
    collection.add(element);
    return element;
}

A type T is being specified by this method. It is used as generic type of collection as well as for element parameter type.

Java Code:

String stringElement = "stringElement";
List<String> stringList = new ArrayList<String>();
String theElement = add(stringElement, stringList);    
Integer integerElement = new Integer(123);
List<Integer> integerList = new ArrayList<Integer>();
Integer theElement = add(integerElement, integerList);

The given call is also considered legal:

Java Code:

String stringElement = "stringElement";
List<Object> objectList = new ArrayList<Object>();
Object theElement = add(stringElement, objectList);

Though, its inverse is not considered legal:

Java Code:

Object objectElement = new Object();
List<String> stringList = new ArrayList<String>();
Object theElement = add(objectElement, stringList);