CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++templates
Yannick Schrödel
Yannick Schrödel

Reputation: 33

Empty template parameters to save space

Suppose I wrote a class library in my project, and I would not use all of the classes/ functions available. Would it make any sense to write a non-template function as a template like this:

template<>
void doStuff(int argument)
{
     // Stuff done here
     return;
}

I presume that template rules might apply here, so if I didn't want to doStuff at all, and do not call that function, it would not have to be instanciated at all, would it? Can I also use this technique for classes, or is there something I didn't catch about templates?

So does this save space?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 61

Answers (1)

Jarod42
Jarod42

Reputation: 217245

Your try is a template specialization.

To have function template without template parameter, you may use default template parameter:

template<typename = void>
void doStuff(int argument)
{
     // Stuff done here
}

but you may instead inline it:

inline void doStuff(int argument)
{
     // Stuff done here
}

but in fact less the linker/compiler do their job and only if it becomes a problem investigate how to solve this issue.

Upvotes: 1

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