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Generic Classes (C++) 

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A generic class is declared using the following form:

[attributes]
generic <class-key type-parameter-identifier(s)>
[constraint-clauses]
[accessibility-modifiers] ref class identifier  [modifiers]
[: base-list] 
{
      class-body
} [declarators] [;]

Remarks

In the above syntax, the following terms are used:

  • attributes (optional)
    Additional declarative information. For more information on attributes and attribute classes, see Attributes.
  • class-key
    Either class or typename
  • type-parameter-identifier(s)
    Comma-separated list of identifiers specifying the names of the type parameters.

  • constraint-clauses
    A list (not comma-separated) of where clauses specifying the constraints for the type parameters. Takes the form:

    where type-parameter-identifier:constraint-list ...

  • constraint-list
    class-or-interface[, ...]
  • accessibility-modifiers
    Allowed accessibility modifiers include public and private.
  • identifier
    The name of the generic class, any valid C++ identifier.
  • modifiers (optional)
    Allowed modifiers include sealed and abstract.
  • base-list
    A list that contains the one base class and any implemented interfaces, all separated by commas.
  • class-body
    The body of the class, containing fields, member functions, etc.
  • declarators
    Declarations of any variables of this type. For example: ^identifier[, ...]

You can declare generic classes such as these (note that the keyword class may be used instead of typename). In this example, ItemType, KeyType and ValueType are unknown types that are specified at the point where the type. HashTable<int, int> is a constructed type of the generic type HashTable<KeyType, ValueType>. A number of different constructed types can be constructed from a single generic type. Constructed types constructed from generic classes are treated like any other ref class type.

// generic_classes_1.cpp
// compile with: /clr
using namespace System;
generic <typename ItemType>
ref struct Stack {
   // ItemType may be used as a type here
   void Add(ItemType item) {}
};

generic <typename KeyType, typename ValueType>
ref class HashTable {};

// The keyword class may be used instead of typename:
generic <class ListItem>
ref class List {};

int main() {
   HashTable<int, Decimal>^ g1 = gcnew HashTable<int, Decimal>();
}

Both value types (either built-in types such as int or double, or user-defined value types) and reference types may be used as a generic type argument. The syntax within the generic definition is the same regardless. Syntactically, the unknown type is treated as if it were a reference type. However, the runtime is able to determine that if the type actually used is a value type and substitute the appropriate generated code for direct access to members. Value types used as generic type arguments are not boxed and so do not suffer the performance penalty associated with boxing. The syntax used within the body of the generic should be T^ and '->' instead of '.'. Any use of gcnew for the type parameter will be appropriately interpreted by the runtime as the simple creation of a value type if the type argument is a value type.

You can also declare a generic class with Constraints on the types that can be used for the type parameter. In the following example any type used for ItemType must implement the IItem interface. Attempting to use int, for example, which does not implement IItem, would produce a compile-time error because the type argument does not satisfy the constraint.

// generic_classes_2.cpp
// compile with: /clr /c
interface class IItem {};
generic <class ItemType>
where ItemType : IItem
ref class Stack {};

Generic classes in the same namespace cannot be overloaded by only changing the number or the types of type parameters. However, if each class lives in a different namespace, they can be overloaded. For example, consider the following two classes, MyClass and MyClass<ItemType>, in the namespaces A and B. The two classes can then be overloaded in a third namespace C:

// generic_classes_3.cpp
// compile with: /clr /c
namespace A {
   ref class MyClass {};
}

namespace B {
   generic <typename ItemType> 
   ref class MyClass2 { };
}

namespace C {
   using namespace A;
   using namespace B;

   ref class Test {
      static void F() {
         MyClass^ m1 = gcnew MyClass();   // OK
         MyClass2<int>^ m2 = gcnew MyClass2<int>();   // OK
      }
   };
}

The base class and base interfaces cannot be type parameters. However, the base class can involve the type parameter as an argument, as in the following case:

// generic_classes_4.cpp
// compile with: /clr /c
generic <typename ItemType>
interface class IInterface {};

generic <typename ItemType>
ref class MyClass : IInterface<ItemType> {};

Constructors and destructors are executed once for each object instance (as usual); static constructors are executed once for each constructed type.

Fields in Generic Classes

This section demonstrates the use of instance and static fields in generic classes.

Instance Variables

Instance variables of a generic class can have types and variable initializers that include any type parameters from the enclosing class.

Example

In the following example, three different instances of the generic class, MyClass<ItemType>, are created by using the appropriate type arguments (int, double, and string).

// generics_instance_fields1.cpp
// compile with: /clr
// Instance fields on generic classes
using namespace System;

generic <typename ItemType>
ref class MyClass {
// Field of the type ItemType:
public :
   ItemType field1;
   // Constructor using a parameter of the type ItemType:
   MyClass(ItemType p) {
     field1 = p; 
   }
};

int main() {
   // Instantiate an instance with an integer field:
   MyClass<int>^ myObj1 = gcnew MyClass<int>(123);
   Console::WriteLine("Integer field = {0}", myObj1->field1);

   // Instantiate an instance with a double field:
   MyClass<double>^ myObj2 = gcnew MyClass<double>(1.23);
   Console::WriteLine("Double field = {0}", myObj2->field1);

   // Instantiate an instance with a String field:
   MyClass<String^>^ myObj3 = gcnew MyClass<String^>("ABC");
   Console::WriteLine("String field = {0}", myObj3->field1);
   }

Output

Integer field = 123
Double field = 1.23
String field = ABC

The following example demonstrates using static fields and a static constructor within a generic class.

// generics_static2.cpp
// compile with: /clr
using namespace System;

interface class ILog {
   void Write(String^ s);
};

ref class DateTimeLog : ILog {
public:
   virtual void Write(String^ s) {
      Console::WriteLine( "{0}\t{1}", DateTime::Now, s);
   }
};

ref class PlainLog : ILog {
public:
   virtual void Write(String^ s) { Console::WriteLine(s); }
};

generic <typename LogType>
where LogType : ILog
ref class G {
   static LogType s_log;

public:
   G(){}
   void SetLog(LogType log) { s_log = log; }
   void F() { s_log->Write("Test1"); }
   static G() { Console::WriteLine("Static constructor called."); }   
};

int main() {
   G<PlainLog^>^ g1 = gcnew G<PlainLog^>();
   g1->SetLog(gcnew PlainLog());
   g1->F();

   G<DateTimeLog^>^ g2 = gcnew G<DateTimeLog^>();
   g2->SetLog(gcnew DateTimeLog());

   // prints date
   // g2->F();
}

Sample Output

Static constructor called.
Static constructor called.
Static constructor called.
Test1

The following example declares a non-generic method, ProtectData, inside a generic class, MyClass<ItemType>. The method uses the class type parameter ItemType in its signature in an open constructed type.

// generics_non_generic_methods1.cpp
// compile with: /clr
// Non-generic methods within a generic class.
using namespace System;

generic <typename ItemType>
ref class MyClass {
public:
   String^ name;
   ItemType data;

   MyClass(ItemType x) {
      data = x;
   }

   // Non-generic method using the type parameter:
   virtual void ProtectData(MyClass<ItemType>^ x) {
      data = x->data;
   }
};

// ItemType defined as String^
ref class MyMainClass: MyClass<String^> {
public:
   // Passing "123.00" to the constructor:
   MyMainClass(): MyClass<String^>("123.00") {
      name = "Jeff Smith"; 
   } 

   virtual void ProtectData(MyClass<String^>^ x) override {
      x->data = String::Format("${0}**", x->data);
   }

   static void Main() {
      MyMainClass^ x1 = gcnew MyMainClass();
      
      x1->ProtectData(x1);
      Console::WriteLine("Name: {0}", x1->name);
      Console::WriteLine("Amount: {0}", x1->data);
   }
};

int main() {
   MyMainClass::Main();
}

Output

Name: Jeff Smith
Amount: $123.00**
// generics_method2.cpp
// compile with: /clr /c
generic <typename Type1>
ref class G {
public:
   // Generic method having a type parameter
   // from the class, Type1, and its own type
   // parameter, Type2
   generic <typename Type2>
   void Method1(Type1 t1, Type2 t2) { F(t1, t2); }

   // Non-generic method:
   // Can use the class type param, Type1, but not Type2.
   void Method2(Type1 t1) { F(t1, t1); }

   void F(Object^ o1, Object^ o2) {}
};

The non-generic method is still generic in the sense that it is parameterized by the class's type parameter, but it has no additional type parameters.

All types of methods in generic classes can be generic, including static, instance, and virtual methods.

The following example demonstrates declaring and using generic methods within generic classes:

// generics_generic_method2.cpp
// compile with: /clr
using namespace System;
generic <class ItemType>
ref class MyClass {
public:
   // Declare a generic method member.
   generic <class Type1>
   String^ MyMethod(ItemType item, Type1 t) {
      return String::Concat(item->ToString(), t->ToString());
   }
};

int main() {
   // Create instances using different types.
   MyClass<int>^ myObj1 = gcnew MyClass<int>();
   MyClass<String^>^ myObj2 = gcnew MyClass<String^>();
   MyClass<String^>^ myObj3 = gcnew MyClass<String^>();

   // Calling MyMethod using two integers.
   Console::WriteLine("MyMethod returned: {0}",
            myObj1->MyMethod<int>(1, 2));

   // Calling MyMethod using an integer and a string.
   Console::WriteLine("MyMethod returned: {0}",
            myObj2->MyMethod<int>("Hello #", 1));

   // Calling MyMethod using two strings.
   Console::WriteLine("MyMethod returned: {0}",
       myObj3->MyMethod<String^>("Hello ", "World!"));

   // generic methods can be called without specifying type arguments
   myObj1->MyMethod<int>(1, 2);
   myObj2->MyMethod<int>("Hello #", 1);
   myObj3->MyMethod<String^>("Hello ", "World!");
}

Output

MyMethod returned: 12
MyMethod returned: Hello #1
MyMethod returned: Hello World!
// generics_linked_list.cpp
// compile with: /clr
using namespace System;
generic <class ItemType>
ref class LinkedList {
// The node class:
public:
   ref class Node {
   // The link field:
   public:
      Node^ next;
      // The data field:
      ItemType item; 
   } ^first, ^current;
};

ref class ListBuilder {
public:
   void BuildIt(LinkedList<double>^ list) {
      /* Build the list */
      double m[5] = {0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5};
      Console::WriteLine("Building the list:");

      for (int n=0; n<=4; n++) {
         // Create a new node:
         list->current = gcnew LinkedList<double>::Node();

         // Assign a value to the data field:
         list->current->item = m[n];

         // Set the link field "next" to be the same as 
         // the "first" field:
         list->current->next = list->first;

         // Redirect "first" to the new node:
         list->first = list->current;

         // Display node's data as it builds:
         Console::WriteLine(list->current->item);
      }
   }

   void ReadIt(LinkedList<double>^ list) {
      // Read the list
      // Make "first" the "current" link field:
      list->current = list->first;
      Console::WriteLine("Reading nodes:");

      // Read nodes until current == null:
      while (list->current != nullptr) {
         // Display the node's data field:
         Console::WriteLine(list->current->item);

         // Move to the next node:
         list->current = list->current->next;
      }
   }
};

int main() {
   // Create a list:
   LinkedList<double>^ aList = gcnew LinkedList<double>();

   // Initialize first node:
   aList->first = nullptr;
   
   // Instantiate the class, build, and read the list: 
   ListBuilder^ myListBuilder = gcnew ListBuilder();
   myListBuilder->BuildIt(aList);
   myListBuilder->ReadIt(aList);
}

Output

Building the list:
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
Reading nodes:
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1

This example shows declarations of an instance property within a generic class.

// generics_generic_properties1.cpp
// compile with: /clr
using namespace System;

generic <typename ItemType>
ref class MyClass {
private:
   property ItemType myField;

public:
   property ItemType MyProperty {
      ItemType get() {
         return myField; 
      }
      void set(ItemType value) {
         myField = value;
      }
   }
};

int main() {
   MyClass<String^>^ c = gcnew MyClass<String^>();
   MyClass<int>^ c1 = gcnew MyClass<int>();

   c->MyProperty = "John";
   c1->MyProperty = 234;

   Console::Write("{0}, {1}", c->MyProperty, c1->MyProperty);
}

Output

John, 234

The next example shows a generic class with an event.

// generics_generic_with_event.cpp
// compile with: /clr
// Declare a generic class with an event and
// invoke events.
using namespace System;

// declare delegates
generic <typename ItemType>
delegate void ClickEventHandler(ItemType);

// generic class that defines events
generic <typename ItemType>
ref class EventSource {
public:
   // declare the event OnClick
   event ClickEventHandler<ItemType>^ OnClick; 
   void FireEvents(ItemType item) {
      // raises events
      OnClick(item);
   }
};

// generic class that defines methods that will called when
// event occurs
generic <typename ItemType>
ref class EventReceiver {
public:
   void OnMyClick(ItemType item) {
     Console::WriteLine("OnClick: {0}", item);
   }
};

int main() {
   EventSource<String^>^ MyEventSourceString =
                   gcnew EventSource<String^>();
   EventSource<int>^ MyEventSourceInt = gcnew EventSource<int>();
   EventReceiver<String^>^ MyEventReceiverString =
                   gcnew EventReceiver<String^>();
   EventReceiver<int>^ MyEventReceiverInt = gcnew EventReceiver<int>();

   // hook handler to event
   MyEventSourceString->OnClick += gcnew ClickEventHandler<String^>(
       MyEventReceiverString, &EventReceiver<String^>::OnMyClick);
   MyEventSourceInt->OnClick += gcnew ClickEventHandler<int>(
             MyEventReceiverInt, &EventReceiver<int>::OnMyClick);

   // invoke events
   MyEventSourceString->FireEvents("Hello");
   MyEventSourceInt->FireEvents(112);

   // unhook handler to event
   MyEventSourceString->OnClick -= gcnew ClickEventHandler<String^>(
        MyEventReceiverString, &EventReceiver<String^>::OnMyClick);
   MyEventSourceInt->OnClick -= gcnew ClickEventHandler<int>(
        MyEventReceiverInt, &EventReceiver<int>::OnMyClick);
}

The following example declares a generic struct, MyGenStruct, with one field, myField, and assigns values of different types (int, double, String^) to this field.

// generics_generic_struct1.cpp
// compile with: /clr
using namespace System;

generic <typename ItemType>
ref struct MyGenStruct {
public:
   ItemType myField;
   
   ItemType AssignValue(ItemType item) {
      myField = item;
      return myField;
   }
};

int main() {
   int myInt = 123;
   MyGenStruct<int>^ myIntObj = gcnew MyGenStruct<int>();
   myIntObj->AssignValue(myInt);
   Console::WriteLine("The field is assigned the integer value: {0}",
            myIntObj->myField);
   
   double myDouble = 0.123;
   MyGenStruct<double>^ myDoubleObj = gcnew MyGenStruct<double>();
   myDoubleObj->AssignValue(myDouble);
   Console::WriteLine("The field is assigned the double value: {0}",
            myDoubleObj->myField);

   String^ myString = "Hello Generics!";
   MyGenStruct<String^>^ myStringObj = gcnew MyGenStruct<String^>();
   myStringObj->AssignValue(myString);
   Console::WriteLine("The field is assigned the string: {0}",
            myStringObj->myField);
}

Output

The field is assigned the integer value: 123
The field is assigned the double value: 0.123
The field is assigned the string: Hello Generics!

Static Variables

On the creation of a new generic type, new instances of any static variables are created and any static constructor for that type is executed.

Static variables can use any type parameters from the enclosing class.

Methods in Generic Classes

Methods in generic classes can be generic themselves; non-generic methods will be implicitly parameterized by the class type parameter.

The following special rules apply to methods within generic classes:

  • Methods in generic classes can use type parameters as parameters, return types, or local variables.

  • Methods in generic classes can use open or closed constructed types as parameters, return types, or local variables.

Non-Generic Methods in Generic Classes

Methods in generic classes that have no additional type parameters are usually referred to as non-generic although they are implicitly parameterized by the enclosing generic class.

The signature of a non-generic method can include one or more type parameters of the enclosing class, either directly or in an open constructed type. For example:

void MyMethod(MyClass<ItemType> x) {}

The body of such methods can also use these type parameters.

Generic Methods in Generic Classes

You can declare generic methods in both generic and non-generic classes. For example:

Using Nested Types in Generic Classes

Just as with ordinary classes, you can declare other types inside a generic class. The nested class declaration is implicitly parameterized by the type parameters of the outer class declaration. Thus, a distinct nested class is defined for each constructed outer type. For example, in the declaration,

// generic_classes_5.cpp
// compile with: /clr /c
generic <typename ItemType>
ref struct Outer {
   ref class Inner {};
};

The type Outer<int>::Inner is not the same as the type Outer<double>::Inner.

As with generic methods in generic classes, additional type parameters can be defined for the nested type. If you use the same type parameter names in the inner and outer class, the inner type parameter will hide the outer type parameter.

// generic_classes_6.cpp
// compile with: /clr /c
generic <typename ItemType>
ref class Outer {
   ItemType outer_item;   // refers to outer ItemType

   generic <typename ItemType>
   ref class Inner {
      ItemType inner_item;   // refers to Inner ItemType
   };
};

Since there is no way to refer to the outer type parameter, the compiler will produce a warning in this situation.

When constructed nested generic types are named, the type parameter for the outer type is not included in the type parameter list for the inner type, even though the inner type is implicitly parameterized by the outer type's type parameter. In the above case, a name of a constructed type would be Outer<int>::Inner<string>.

The following example demonstrates building and reading a linked list using nested types in generic classes.

Properties, Events, Indexers and Operators in Generic Classes

  • Properties, events, indexers and operators can use the type parameters of the enclosing generic class as return values, parameters, or local variables, such as when ItemType is a type parameter of a class:

    public ItemType MyProperty {}

  • Properties, events, indexers and operators cannot themselves be parameterized.

Generic Structs

The rules for declaring and using generic structs are the same as those for generic classes, except for the differences noted in in the C++ language reference.

See Also

Other Resources

Generics (C++)