Accumulating the input

Now, we will accumulate the input. So, in the following sampLabel.Text lines, we change the = sign to +=, as shown here:

GenericsClass<double> dubs = new GenericsClass<double>(new double[] { 1.0, -2.3, 3, 4, 5 });
sampLabel.Text += ints.DisplayValues();
GenericsClass<decimal> decs = new GenericsClass<decimal>(new decimal[] { 1, 2.0M, 3, 4, 5.79M });
sampLabel.Text += ints.DisplayValues();

Let's run it one more time. Click on the Display Values button and your screen will now look like the one shown in Figure 1.1.5:

The program is now working as expected.

So, the big idea of generics at this point is that you can define a generic class. This class can operate equally well on many different data types. For example, you can make a generic class that operates on integers as well as on doubles and decimals.

Now, we will go through it. So, to first step into it, hover your mouse over the T object in the following line in Generics Class.cs:

public GenericsClass(T[] input)

Here, T is essentially like a parameter, so it does have a certain value, which is expressed in the vals = input; line. The first time, T is used for integers. This is how you can step through this code. At the bottom of the screen, the values inside the array are displayed, as shown in Figure 1.1.6:

The t variable, as you can see in Figure 1.1.7, is an integer, and this is how it operates:

Notice also in the screenshot that it's a generics class with an <int> datatype.

The T object in the foreach(T t in vals) line right now represents an integer, and so on for the other data types. So, flexibility of code and reuse of code means that you will write less code. If not for generics, you would have to create individual classes to handle each different data type.