---
title: "Generics"
content_type: tutorial
url: "https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/generics?language=en"
language: en
difficulty: intermediate
duration_minutes: 5
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last_updated: "2026-08-04T14:21:21.000Z"
---

# Generics

Learn to define and use generic methods and classes in C# to write reusable, type-safe code.

How to create and use generic methods and classes.

## 1. Generics

[Video](https://connect-mediagw.unity.com/h1/20220110/videos/b55886f1-d5b6-4380-b8c6-5b0c991d7e8a_U_Intermediate_5_Generics.mp4) ([Transcript (en)](https://connect-mediagw.unity.com/h1/20220110/78f69fce-cf83-4583-857e-b8c579783713_I_05_Generics.vtt))

**SomeClass**

```csharp
using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;

public class SomeClass 
{
    //Here is a generic method. Notice the generic
    //type 'T'. This 'T' will be replaced at runtime
    //with an actual type. 
    public T GenericMethod<T>(T param)
    {
        return param;
    }
}
```

**SomeOtherClass**

```csharp
using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;

public class SomeOtherClass : MonoBehaviour 
{
    void Start () 
    {
        SomeClass myClass = new SomeClass();

        //In order to use this method you must
        //tell the method what type to replace
        //'T' with.
        myClass.GenericMethod<int>(5);
    }
}
```

**GenericClass**

```csharp
using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;

//Here is a generic class. Notice the generic type 'T'.
//'T' will be replaced with an actual type, as will also 
//instances of the type 'T' used in the class.
public class GenericClass <T>
{
    T item;

    public void UpdateItem(T newItem)
    {
        item = newItem;
    }
}
```

**GenericClassExample**

```csharp
using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;

public class GenericClassExample : MonoBehaviour 
{
    void Start () 
    {        
        //In order to create an object of a generic class, you must
        //specify the type you want the class to have.
        GenericClass<int> myClass = new GenericClass<int>();

        myClass.UpdateItem(5);
    }
}
```