All About Templates in C++
Generic programming is an approach where generic types are used as arguments in algorithms so that they can work for various data types.
In this article, we will learn about an interesting feature of C++ used for generic programming – Templates. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
We will be covering the following sections today:
- What are Templates in C++?
- Function Template in C++
- Class Template in C++
- Function Overloading vs. Function Template in C++
- Advantages of Using Templates in C++
- Disadvantages of Using Templates in C++
What are Templates in C++?
C++ Templates are basically a blueprint that determines how a generic class or function is created in C++. You can write a class or function that works with different data types with templates.
Templates are a powerful C++ feature that allows you to build generic programs. There are two ways to implement templates as described below:
- Function Template
- Class Template
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Function Template in C++
A standard C++ function works only with one set of data types. A C++ function template, however, is a single template that works with various data types simultaneously.
Defining a Function Template
A function template syntax is defined with the keyword template along with template argument(s) within angular brackets < >, which is followed by the function definition, as shown below:
template <typename T>\n \n \n <typename t="">\n \n \n \n \n \n T functionName(T parameter1, T parameter2, ...) \n \n \n {\n \n \n // code\n \n \n }\n \n \n \n \n \n </typename t="">
In the above-shown syntax, typename is the keyword, and T is the template argument that accepts multiple data types (int, float, etc.).
When we pass an argument of a particular data type to the function functionName(), the compiler generates a new version of functionName() for the given data type.
Calling Function Template
As soon as the function template is declared and defined, it can be called in other functions with the following syntax:
functionName\n \n \n <datatype>\n \n \n (parameter1, parameter2, ...); \n \n \n \n \n \n </datatype>
Let’s take a look at an example:
#include\n \n \n <iostream>\n \n \n \n \n \n using namespace std;\n \n \n \n \n \n //Define a function template\n \n \n template \n \n \n \n \n \n <typename t="">\n \n \n \n \n \n T sum(T num1, T num2) {\n \n \n return (num1 + num2);\n \n \n }\n \n \n \n \n \n int main() {\n \n \n \n \n \n int res1;\n \n \n double res2;\n \n \n //Calling the function template\n \n \n // with int parameters\n \n \n res1 = sum\n \n \n \n \n \n <int>\n \n \n (6, 3);\n \n \n cout << res1 << endl;\n \n \n \n \n \n //Calling the function template \n \n \n // with double parameters\n \n \n res2 = sum\n \n \n \n \n \n <double>\n \n \n (6.2, 1.3);\n \n \n cout << res2 << endl;\n \n \n \n \n \n return 0;\n \n \n } \n \n \n \n \n \n </double>\n \n \n \n \n \n </int>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n </typename t="">\n \n \n </iostream>
Output:
97.5
As it is visible in the above program, the function template adds two numbers. The function calls are based on the data types int and double.
Read Later
Class Template in C++
Class templates are similar to function templates and simultaneously work for different data types. Class templates define a family of classes in C++.
Declaring a Class Template
A class template syntax also starts with the keyword template followed by template argument(s) within angular brackets < >, which is then followed by the class declaration, as shown below:
template \n \n \n <class t="">\n \n \n \n \n \n class className {\n \n \n private:\n \n \n T var;\n \n \n . . . \n \n \n public:\n \n \n T functionName(T parameter1, T parameter2, ...);\n \n \n . . .\n \n \n };\n \n \n \n \n \n </class t="">
In the above-shown syntax, class is the keyword, and T is the template argument that accepts multiple data types (int, float, etc.). Inside the body of the class, we declare a member variable var and a member function functionName(), both of type T.
Creating a Class Template Object
Once the class template is declared and defined, we can create its objects inside other classes or functions with the following syntax:
className\n \n \n <datatype>\n \n \n object; \n \n \n \n \n \n </datatype>
Let’s take a look at an example:
#include\n \n \n <iostream>\n \n \n \n \n \n using namespace std;\n \n \n \n \n \n //Declaring class template\n \n \n template \n \n \n \n \n \n <class t="">\n \n \n \n \n \n class number {\n \n \n private:\n \n \n //Declare a variable of type T\n \n \n T num;\n \n \n \n \n \n public:\n \n \n number(T n) : num(n) {} //Constructor\n \n \n \n \n \n T get_num() {\n \n \n return num;\n \n \n }\n \n \n };\n \n \n \n \n \n int main() {\n \n \n \n \n \n //Creating an object with int type\n \n \n number\n \n \n \n \n \n <int>\n \n \n numberInt(8);\n \n \n \n \n \n //Creating an object with double type\n \n \n number\n \n \n \n \n \n <double>\n \n \n numberDouble(2.7);\n \n \n \n \n \n cout << "int type number: " << numberInt.get_num() << endl;\n \n \n cout << "double type number: " << numberDouble.get_num() << endl;\n \n \n \n \n \n return 0;\n \n \n }\n \n \n \n \n \n </double>\n \n \n \n \n \n </int>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n </class t="">\n \n \n </iostream>
Output:
int type number: 8double type number: 2.7
As it can be seen in the above program, we have implemented the class template by creating its objects numberInt(8) and numberDouble(2.7).
Class Template with Multiple Arguments
C++ also supports multiple and default template argument(s), as shown below:
template class className { private: T var1; U var2; V var3; . . . public: . . .};
Let’s take a look at an example:
#include using namespace std;
//Declaring a class template with multiple and default parameterstemplate class display { private: T var1; U var2; V var3;
public: display(T v1, U v2, V v3) : var1(v1), var2(v2), var3(v3) {} //Constructor
void printVar() { cout << "var1 = " << var1 << endl; cout << "var2 = " << var2 << endl; cout << "var3 = " << var3 << endl; }};
int main() { //Creating an object with int, double and char types display<int, double=""> obj1(5, 7.3, 'x'); cout << "obj1 values: " << endl; obj1.printVar();
//Creating an object with int, double and bool types display<double, char,="" bool=""> obj2(1.5, 'd', false); cout << "\nobj2 values: " << endl; obj2.printVar();
return 0;}</double,></int,>
Output:
obj1 values:var1 = 5var2= 7.3var3: x
obj2 values:var1= 1.5var2 = dvar3 = 0
As you can see in above-given program, we have implemented the class template named display with multiple arguments, one of them being a default argument i.e., V whose default type is char.
Inside the class, we declare three variables var1, var2, and var3 where each corresponds to one of the template arguments.
Function Overloading vs. Function Template in C++
| Function Overloading | Function Template |
|---|---|
| 1. Function overloading is used when multiple functions perform similar operations. | 1. A function template is used when multiple functions do identical operations. |
| 2. Function overloading takes varying numbers of arguments. | 2. Function templates cannot take varying numbers of arguments. |
Advantages of Using Templates in C++
- Templates are an effective way of generalizing APIs.
- Templates and macros both are expanded at compile time. The former is considered an improvement because they are type-safe.
- Using templates aids in avoiding common coding errors.
Disadvantages of Using Templates in C++
- Creating a template can be a bit difficult for beginner coders.
- When templates are used, the entire code is exposed.
- Many compilers do not offer support for the nesting of templates.
Endnotes
Hope this article helped you grasp the concept of templates in C++. Templates are a handy tool in C++ to reduce code lines and make our code more manageable. Explore our articles on the C++ to find out more about the language and consolidate your knowledge of the fundamentals.
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