Generic programming is a style of computer programming in which algorithms are written in terms of data types to-be-specified-later that are then instantiated when needed for specific types provided as parameters. This approach, pioneered in the programming language ML in 1973,¹² permits writing common functions or data types that differ only in the set of types on which they operate when used, thus reducing duplicate code.

Not to be confused with Genetic programming or Pseudocode.

Generic programming was introduced to the mainstream with Ada in 1977. With templates in C++, generic programming became part of the repertoire of professional library design. The techniques were further improved and were introduced in the influential 1994 book .