Create an Array of Generics Type in Java

Generics is a concept in Java where you can enable a class, interface and, method, accept all (reference) types as parameters. In other words it is the concept which enables the users to choose the reference type that a method, constructor of a class accepts, dynamically. By defining a class as generic you are making it type-safe i.e. it can act up on any datatype.

Example

 Live Demo

class Student<T>{
   T age;
   Student(T age){
      this.age = age;
   }
   public void display() {
      System.out.println("Value of age: "+this.age);
   }
}
public class GenericsExample {
   public static void main(String args[]) {
      Student<Float> std1 = new Student<Float>(25.5f);
      std1.display();
      Student<String> std2 = new Student<String>("25");
      std2.display();
      Student<Integer> std3 = new Student<Integer>(25);
      std3.display();
   }
}

Output

Value of age: 25.5
Value of age: 25
Value of age: 25

Array of generic types

No, we cannot create an array of generic type objects if you try to do so, a compile time error is generated.

Example

 Live Demo

class Student<T>{
   T age;
   Student(T age){
      this.age = age;
   }
   public void display() {
      System.out.println("Value of age: "+this.age);
   }
}
public class GenericsExample {
   public static void main(String args[]) {
      Student<Float>[] std1 = new Student<Float>[5];
   }
}

Compile time error

GenericsExample.java:12: error: generic array creation
      Student<Float>[] std1 = new Student<Float>[5];
                              ^
1 error