When should I use member function templates vs regular member functions?

How do I decide when it makes sense to use a member function template instead of a regular member function?

Use member function templates when you want to write a single function that can work with different types, but the types aren't known until compile-time.

Some examples of when member function templates are useful:

  • A print() function that can print various types of data members
  • Equality or comparison operators that work with multiple types
  • A generic sort() function for sorting different types in a class
  • Getters/setters that can work with different property types

If your member function always deals with the same types, a regular member function is simpler. But if you find yourself writing overloaded versions of a function for different types, consider using a member function template to reduce code duplication.

In general, reach for member function templates when you need flexibility in the types the function operates on, but regular member functions when the types are fixed.

Member Function Templates

Learn how to create and use member function templates in classes and structs, including syntax, instantiation, and advanced techniques

Questions & Answers

Answers are generated by AI models and may not have been reviewed. Be mindful when running any code on your device.

Passing member function templates as arguments
Can I pass a member function template as an argument to another function? How would I do that?
Template specialization for member function templates
Is it possible to specialize a member function template? How would I do that?
Using member function templates with inheritance
How do member function templates interact with inheritance? Can I override a member function template in a derived class?
Member function templates and static members
Can I declare a static member variable inside a member function template? How would I define it?
Using SFINAE with member function templates
Can I use SFINAE (Substitution Failure Is Not An Error) with member function templates? How does that work?
Or Ask your Own Question
Get an immediate answer to your specific question using our AI assistant