Answer
Boxing allocates heap memory, copies value types into objects, and causes GC overhead.
Unboxing additionally requires type checking, making both operations costly.
Quick Answer
Boxing allocates a new object on the heap and copies the value into it — that is a heap allocation plus GC tracking overhead. Unboxing requires a type check plus a copy back out. In a tight loop or large collection, thousands of box/unbox operations visibly degrade performance. Use generics to avoid it.
S
SugharaIQ Editorial Team
Verified Answer
This answer has been peer-reviewed by industry experts holding senior engineering roles to ensure technical accuracy and relevance for modern interview standards.
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Source: SugharaIQ