pseudogeneric

Pseudogeneric is a term used in object-oriented programming to describe a class or function that behaves like a generic (or template in some languages) but does not use the language's built-in generic type system. Instead, it achieves a similar effect through techniques like inheritance, polymorphism, or by operating on a common base type, such as `Object` in Java or C#. This approach allows for code reuse and handling of different data types without explicit parametrization.

A common manifestation of pseudogenerics is seen in collections that store elements of a base type. For instance, a list that holds `Object` instances can technically store any type of object. To use these objects correctly, a programmer must cast them back to their original type, which can introduce runtime errors if the cast is incorrect. This contrasts with true generics, where the type safety is enforced at compile time.

Early versions of languages like Java relied on pseudogeneric approaches before introducing native generic support. While less safe and often more verbose than true generics, understanding pseudogenerics can provide insight into the evolution of programming language features and the underlying principles of type abstraction. It highlights the trade-offs between compile-time safety and flexibility in software design.