Exploring Reified Type Parameter in Kotlin: Unveiling the Power of Type Information at Runtime

Generics in Kotlin provide a powerful way to write reusable and type-safe code. However, on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), generics are subject to type erasure, meaning that the specific type arguments used for instances of a generic class are not preserved at runtime. This limitation has implications for runtime type checks and casts. But fear not! Kotlin provides a solution: reified type parameters. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the world of reified type parameters and explore how they enable us to access and manipulate type information at runtime.

Understanding Type Erasure in Kotlin Generics

Generics in Kotlin are implemented using type erasure on the JVM. This means that the specific type arguments used for instances of a generic class are not preserved at runtime. In this section, we’ll explore the practical consequences of type erasure in Kotlin and learn how you can overcome its limitations by declaring a function as inline.

By declaring a function as inline, you can prevent the erasure of its type arguments. In Kotlin, this is achieved by using reified type parameters. Reified type parameters allow you to access and manipulate the actual type information of the generic arguments at runtime.