#1,137 – Generic Methods in Non-Generic Classes

A non-generic class can contain both generic and non-generic methods.

    // Non-generic class
    public class Dog
    {
        public string Name { get; set; }

        public Dog(string name)
        {
            Name = name;
        }

        // Non-generic method
        public void Bark()
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Woof");
        }

        // Generic method
        public void Bury<T>(T thing)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("{0} is burying: {1}", Name, thing);
        }
    }

A generic class can also contain both generic and non-generic methods.

• Generic methods are methods that introduce a type parameter not present in the generic class
• Both generic and non-generic methods can make use of the generic class’ type parameters

    // Generic class
    public class Pile<T>
    {
        List<T> pile = new List<T>();

        // Non-generic method
        public void Add(T item)
        {
            pile.Add(item);
        }

        // Generic method (introduces T2)
        public void AddWithOtherThing<T2>(T item, T2 otherThing)
        {
            this.Add(T);
            Console.WriteLine("Other thing is {0}", otherThing);
        }
    }