Template specialization in C++

Introduction

C++, or "C with Classes," is a high-level, general-purpose programming language. Danish computer scientist Bjarne Stroustrup developed it to expand the C programming language. It is nearly always written as compiled code. In this blog, we will learn about class template specialization in C++ with the help of examples.

What is a Template in C++?

Templates are strong C++ capabilities that allow us to create generic programs. Templates determine the behavior of class and function families. It is frequently necessary to treat unusual types or non-types differently. As a result, you may fully customize templates while using template specialization in C++.

There are two ways we can implement template specialization in C++:

• Function Templates
• Class Templates 

Class Template

• Class templates may be used to construct a single class that works with several data types. 
• Class templates are helpful since they make our code shorter and easier to manage.
• A class template begins with the keyword "template," then template parameter(s) inside <>, then the class declaration. 
• T is a placeholder for the data type used in the template parameter, and class is a keyword.
• Class templates are partially specialized. 

Syntax:

template <class T>
class className {
  private:
    T var;
    ... .. ...
  public:
    T functionName(T arg);
    ... .. ...
};

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Example:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
template<class t1>
class numbers
{
    t1 x;
    public:
        void getdata()
        {
            cin>>x;
        }
        void display()
        {
            cout<<"Your entered value is:"<<endl;
            cout<<"x="<<x<<endl;
        }
};
int main()
{
    numbers<int> s1;
    numbers<float> s2;
    cout <<"Enter an Integer value:"<<endl;
    s1.getdata();
    s1.display();
    cout <<"Enter Float value"<<endl;
    s2.getdata();
    s2.display();
    return 0;
}

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Output:

Dry run:

Fibonacci Series in C++

Function Template

A function template begins with the keyword template, then template parameter(s) inside <>, and the function declaration.

Syntax:

template <class T>
T Name(T p1, T p2, ...) {
}

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Here p is the parameter.

Example:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
template<class t1,class t2>
void product(t1 x,t2 y) // defining template function
{
    cout<<"Product="<<x*y<<endl;
}
int main()
{
    int p,q;
    float s,r;
    cout<<"Enter two integer data: ";
    cin>>p>>q;
    product(p,q);
    cout<<"Enter two float data: ";
    cin>>s>>r;
    product(s,r); 
    return 0;
}

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Output:

Dry run:

Step 1:

Step 2:

Try and compile with online c++ compiler.