What is a parameterized or generic type?

[ThomsonTang]

A generic type is a type with formal type parameters. A parameterized type is an instantiation of a generic type which actual arguments.

A generic type is a reference type that has one or more type parameters. These type parameters are later replaced by type arguments when the generic type is instantiated ( or declared).

• Example of a generic type:

interface Collection<E> {
    public void add(E e);
    public Iterator<E> iterate();
}

• Example of a parameterized type:

Collection<String> collection = new LinkedList<String>();