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c++c++17template-argument-deductionclass-templatectad
Phil-ZXX
Phil-ZXX

Reputation: 3265

Partial class template argument deduction in C++17

In the example below, we use the C++17 feature "Class template argument deduction" to deduce that val is of type Base<int, double, bool>:

template<class T, class U, class V>
struct Base {
    Base(T, U) { };
    Base(T, U, V) { };
    Base(V) { };
};

void func() {
    Base val(1, 4., false);
}

Now, is it possible to partially specify the template arguments, and let the remaining ones be deduced? Effectively something like this:

Base<V = bool> val1(1, 4.);        // U & V deduced --> Base<int, double, bool>
Base<T = bool, T = int> val2(5.);  // V deduced     --> Base<bool, int, double>

I've tried e.g.

template<class T, class U> using Base2 = Base<T, U, double>;

void func() {
    NewBase2 val(1, 2);
}

but it doesn't compile: 'Base2': use of alias template requires template argument list.

Is partial deduction possible somehow? If it is not possible directly, are there any good workarounds?

Upvotes: 14

Views: 4095

Answers (2)

Jarod42
Jarod42

Reputation: 217255

You might add deduction guide as follow:

template<class T, class U>
Base(T, U) -> Base<T, U, bool>;

template<class V>
Base(V) -> Base<bool, int, V>;

which allows

Base val1(1, 4.); // Base<int, double, bool>
Base val2(5.);    // Base<bool, int, double>

If you want to specify the "default" template, you might use the old way with make_

template <typename V, typename T, typename U>
Base<T, U, V> make_Base(T t, U u)
{
    return Base<T, U, V>{t, u};
}

template <typename T, typename U, typename V>
Base<T, U, V> make_Base(V v)
{
    return Base<T, U, V>{v};
}


auto val1 = make_Base<bool>(1, 4.);   // Base<int, double, bool>
auto val2 = make_Base<bool, int>(5.); // Base<bool, int, double>

Upvotes: 11

NathanOliver
NathanOliver

Reputation: 180585

CTAD (Class Template Argument Deduction) is an all or nothing process currently. You either specify nothing and allow the compiler to deduce all of the arguments, or you specify all of the arguments taking the compiler out of the loop.

There is a paper (P1021R0) which asks for this and more, but it has not yet been accepted. There was a paper asking for partial specialization but after revisions it has been removed. The newest revision still includes a proposal to have CTAD function when using an alias.

Per @Barry Support for Alias templates (P1814) and Aggregates (P1816) have been added to the working draft for C++20. No support for partial CTAD or CTAD with inherited constructors has been added.

Upvotes: 16

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