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A template function is used when you want to write some kind of function that can be applied to different data types. It is a form of overloading, but you don't have to actually write all of the overloaded variants.

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Q: When to create a template function?
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How will you overload a template function?

The only reason to overload a template function is to provide an overload that differs in the number and type of arguments that cannot be addressed by the template function alone. You simply declare them as you would any other overload. The overloads may themselves be template functions, but there must be no ambiguity: every template function must generate an unique function signature. Remember that template functions generate overloads at compile time on an as-required basis.


What is the differnce between ordinary function and template function of c language?

The c language does not have template functions. That is a c++ thing.


When will you create a template function in c plus plus?

You will create a template function whenever you have a function implementation that can be overloaded to cater for more than one type. Rather than re-write the same implementations over and over to cater for each type you might use now or in the future, you template the type and write one version of the function. The compiler will then generate all the necessary overloads for you on an as-required basis. This helps reduce maintenance when you need to alter the implementation because the code is all in one place, so there is no need to duplicate your changes by hand, which is both time-consuming and prone to error. Template functions are intended as an alternative to macro functions. While macros do have their uses, particularly in debug code, they are not type safe and cannot be debugged. Moreover, macros are always inline expanded whereas template functions are only inline expanded when the compiler's optimisers determine that there is an advantage in doing so.


Distinguish between class template and template class?

Template class: A generic definition or a parametrized class not instantiated until the client provides the needed information. It?s jargon for plain templates. Class template: A class template specifies how individual classes can be constructed much like the way a class specifies how individual objects can be constructed. It?s jargon for plain classes. Class template is a template used to generate template classes. We cannot declare an object of a class template. Template class is an instance of a class template.


What do you mean by Instantiating the function template?

Function templates are generic functions for which at least one argument must be a generic type. You cannot instantiate a generic type without knowing its actual type, so until you provide an actual type for the function, the function template cannot be instantiated. You provide an actual type simply by calling the function. If an unambiguous template exists, the compiler generates the actual function for you. At that point the function is said to have been instantiated, just as if you'd written the function by hand. If you call the function again with different types, then new instances of the function are instantiated to match those types, just as if you'd manually written the overloads yourself.