Templates and generic programming
Templates and generic programming are pivotal features of C++ that enable the creation of flexible and reusable components. While this chapter offers an overview of these powerful tools, it’s important to note that the topic of templates, particularly template metaprogramming, is vast enough to fill entire books. For those seeking an in-depth exploration, dedicated resources on C++ templates and metaprogramming are recommended.
What are templates good for?
Templates are particularly useful in scenarios where similar operations need to be performed on different types of data. They allow you to write a single piece of code that works with any type. The following subsections outline some common use cases with examples.
Generic algorithms
Algorithms can operate on different types without rewriting the code for each type. For instance, the standard library’s std::sort function can sort elements of any type as long as the elements...
