What Are Generic Types in Rust?

Generic types in Rust are placeholders for specific types that you specify later, allowing you to write flexible, reusable code without duplicating logic for every data type. You define them using angle brackets and a placeholder name like T in functions, structs, or enums.

struct Point<T> {
    x: T,
    y: T,
}

fn largest<T: PartialOrd>(list: &[T]) -> &T {
    let mut largest = &list[0];
    for item in list {
        if item > largest {
            largest = item;
        }
    }
    largest
}

Generic types are like a reusable template for your code that works with any data type you choose. Instead of writing separate functions for integers, strings, or custom objects, you write one generic version that adapts to whatever you pass in. Think of it as a universal adapter that fits any plug shape you need.