Class and Function Templates

The template programming features of C++ form a large and complex subject, with many books dedicated exclusively to teaching these features. In this book, we will use many of the advanced C++ generic programming features. How, then, should we prepare ourselves to understand these language constructs as they make their appearance throughout this book? This chapter takes an informal approach—instead of precise definitions, we demonstrate the use of templates through examples and explain what the different language features do. If you find your knowledge lacking at this point, you’re encouraged to seek a deeper understanding and read one or more of the books dedicated entirely to the C++ language that are focused on explaining its syntax and semantics. Of course, if you wish for a more precise, formal description, you can refer to the C++ standard or a reference book.

The following topics will be covered in this chapter:

• Templates...