Java syntax question: <O> O accept(ObjectVisitorEx<O> visitor)

Question

Naive question about Java syntax. What does

<T> T accept(ObjectVisitorEx<T> visitor);

mean? What would be the C# equivalent?

Answer 1

The C# equivalent would be more or less the same. If the visitor were an interface it would be

O Accept(IObjectVisitorEx<O> visitor);

Answer 2

In C# it could be:

O Accept<O>(ObjectVisitorEx<O> visitor);

Answer 3

This is used for passing types as parameters. C# syntax is the same (<Type>). Suggest googling for term 'generics' as this is the term you're looking for.

Answer 4

Here's a good comparison between Java and C# generics.

Answer 5

see Java: http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/docs/guide/language/generics.html
and C#: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms379564(VS.80).aspx
A similar C# method could be

public T Foo<T>(Queue<T> v) // Queue<T> chosen for simplicity
{
  return v.Dequeue();
}