Generic programming in computer science

Generic programming is a programming approach that enables the creation of functions or data structures that can operate on different types of data without being rewritten for each type. It uses templates or placeholders, allowing developers to write code that is more flexible and reusable. For example, a generic function for sorting can organize a list of numbers, strings, or any comparable items with the same code, thus improving efficiency and maintainability. In essence, it allows programmers to focus on the logic of operations rather than the specific types of data they are handling.