Generics in Java 5

Since first writing these notes, Java 5 has provided a number of enhancements to the language. From the Data Structures viewpoint, the most important is the introduction of type parameters in class definitions, allowing a much safer approach to generic programming.

The new language features are officially described in outline here, but you may first find it interesting to read a conversation with Joshua Bloch first. There is a more formal tutorial by Gilad Bracha and a useful website, hosted by Angelika Langer, including a generics FAQ. This chapter first describes the basic details you need to know to understand how to program using generic classes, for example those in the Java 5 version of the Collections framework.