How does C# generics affect collections with primitives

Question

As I understand it, C#/.Net generics support some degree of reification. So, if I have the following code:

List list = new List();
lis         


        

Answer 1

The int values will not be boxed within the list. This is one of the beauties with generics, that the compiler (more specifically the JIT-compiler, I believe) will construct a typed version of the List<> class, rather than storing the values as object. So it does not only enforce type safety through the exposed methods and properties, but it is genuinely typed in all aspects.