Generic function

2 snippets across 2 stacks — Python, TypeScript

PYPython

Type Parameter Syntax (3.12+)

syntax

def func[T](arg: T) -> T: ...
class Name[T]: ...

example

# New syntax (3.12+) - no more TypeVar boilerplate
def first_element[T](items: list[T]) -> T:
    return items[0]

print(first_element([10, 20, 30]))
print(first_element(["a", "b"]))

# Generic class
class Pair[A, B]:
    def __init__(self, left: A, right: B):
        self.left = left
        self.right = right

p = Pair("name", 42)
print(p.left, p.right)

output

10
a
name 42

Note The [T] syntax on def/class replaces manual TypeVar declarations. It is scoped to the function or class, unlike module-level TypeVar which could be reused accidentally.

TSTypeScript

Generic Functions

TS · Generics

syntax

function fn<T>(param: T): T { ... }
const fn = <T>(param: T): T => { ... };

example

function firstElement<T>(items: T[]): T | undefined {
  return items[0];
}

const topScore = firstElement([95, 87, 72]); // number | undefined
const firstName = firstElement(["Alice", "Bob"]); // string | undefined

// Multiple type parameters
function mapEntry<K, V>(key: K, value: V): [K, V] {
  return [key, value];
}
const entry = mapEntry("age", 30); // [string, number]

output

// TypeScript infers T from the argument — no need to specify it manually

Note Type parameters are inferred from arguments in most cases. Only specify them explicitly when inference gives the wrong type. In .tsx files, arrow generics need a trailing comma: <T,>(param: T) to avoid JSX ambiguity.