What is this syntax: "Component.For<IOutput>()"?

I'm finding code examples all over the place in IoC and DI discussions that use < and > in their syntax, usually at the end of what looks like a method call.

Can someone

1. Tell me what language this is, and
2. Explain this syntax enough to help me understand the code examples, so I can make sure I understand the underlying principles.

The angle brackets are used to denote the type to use. It ensures compile time safety. This is the syntax used for generics (c#).

They are part of the generics support in the framework. They allow you to specify a type as part of the method (or class). They are referred to as type parameters.

For instance you can have a strongly typed list, which relies upon you telling it what type it should accept:

List<string> myList;

Allows it to accept types of string in the Add function. The class definition for this would look something like:

public class List<T>
{ 
    public void Add(T item) 
    {

    }
}

When you created the List you told it to expect a type of string. This is the type parameter T in the above class. In the method Add it expects an instance of type T (in this instance a string). Which means when you call Add on a List<string>, Add expects a string to be supplied.

Similarly if you created:

List<bool> myOtherList;

The Add method would expect a bool parameter not a string parameter.

1.) The language looks like C#, but without reference/context I can't be 100% sure.

2.) Assuming C#, this syntax is used with generics.