how to specialize template member functions in template class? - c++

For example:
template<unsigned number>
struct A
{
template<class T>
static void Fun()
{}
};
And want to specialize A<1>::Fun()
template<>
A<1>::Fun<int>()
{
/* some code here. */
}
doesn't work. How to do it? Thanks.

First of all, you forgot to specify the return type of the function (void). Secondly, you need to have two template<>: one because you are explicitly specializing the class template, and one because you are explicitly specializing its member function template.
Therefore, this is the correct syntax:
template<> // Because you are explicitly specializing the A class template
template<> // Because you are explicitly specializing the `Fun()` member template
void A<1>::Fun<int>()
{
/* some code here. */
}

Related

How do I define methods outside of the declaration for my specialization of a non-type template class?

The title is a mouthful, but basically I wrote something like this:
enum EnumType{ValA, ValB};
template<EnumType> class A {};
template<>
class A<ValA>
{
private:
double param;
public:
A(double param);
};
template<>
A<ValA>::A(double param)
{
// Do Stuff
}
and when I try to compile it I get:
error: template-id 'A<>' for 'A<(EnumType)0u>::A(double)' does not
match any template declaration
Am I doing this wrong?
After searching online for similar cases, I tried to remove template<> (even though I don't understand why this would work), but then I get
multiple definition of 'A<(EnumType)0u>::A(double)'
I guess that I can replace template<> by inline (I tried and it compiles), but that doesn't feel like the proper way to do it (or if it is, I don't understand why).
Can someone explain to me what is wrong with what I wrote, why changing this seems to work, and what's the proper way to do it ?
Can someone explain to me what is wrong with what I wrote, why changing this seems to work, and what's the proper way to do it ?
The standard says:
Members of an explicitly specialized class template are defined in the same manner as members of normal classes, and not using the template<> syntax.
Therefore, in your case you must use:
A<EnumType::ValA>::A(double param)
{
// Do Stuff
}
No template<> at all is just fine. That's because you are actually specializing a (special) member function (the constructor) of an explicitly specialized class template.
See it on coliru.
It would have been different if no explicit specialization was given.
As a minimal working example:
enum EnumType{ValA, ValB};
template<EnumType> class A
{
private:
double param;
public:
A(double param);
};
template<>
A<EnumType::ValA>::A(double)
{
// Do Stuff
}
int main() {
A<EnumType::ValA> a{0.};
}
In this case, template<> is required before the definition of the constructor because you are not defining a specialization of a member function of an already specialized class template.
You missed a semicolon (;) at the the end of class definition.
And the non template member function can be defined this way:
A<ValA>::A(double param) {
// Do Stuff
}
Informally, the template parameter list is only written when necessary, for example, for defining a member function template of a class template, the two template parameter list should all be written
template<class U, class V>
class A{
template <class T>
A();
};
template<class U, class V>
template <class T>
A<U, V>::A() {}
and a empty template parameter list is needed for a explicit specialisation of function template (which, i guess, is the reason why you use so here), informally because it tells the compiler that this is not a function overloading.

template specialization for member functions in a templated class [duplicate]

I have a templated class with an templated member function
template<class T>
class A {
public:
template<class CT>
CT function();
};
Now I want to specialize the templated member function in 2 ways. First for having the same type as the class:
template<class T>
template<> // Line gcc gives an error for, see below
T A<T>::function<T>() {
return (T)0.0;
}
Second for type bool:
template<class T>
template<>
bool A<T>::function<bool>() {
return false;
}
Here is how I am trying to test it:
int main() {
A<double> a;
bool b = a.function<bool>();
double d = a.function<double>();
}
Now gcc gives me for the line marked above:
error: invalid explicit specialization before ‘>’ token
error: enclosing class templates are not explicitly specialize
So gcc is telling me, that I have to specialize A, if I want to specialize function, right?
I do not want to do that, I want the type of the outer class to be open ...
Is the final answer: it is not possible? Or is there a way?
Yes, this is the problem:
error: enclosing class templates are not explicitly specialized
You cannot specialize a member without also specializing the class.
What you can do is put the code from function in a separate class and specialize that, much like basic_string depends on a separate char_traits class. Then then non-specialized function can call a helper in the traits class.
You can use overload, if you change the implementation.
template <typename T>
class Foo
{
public:
template <typename CT>
CT function() { return helper((CT*)0); }
private:
template <typename CT>
CT helper(CT*);
T helper(T*) { return (T)0.0; }
bool helper(bool*) { return false; }
};
Simple and easy :)

Template Specialization for a function without Parameters

I need to specialize a function template in c++.
template<typename T>
void doStuff<T>() {}
To
template<>
void doStuff<DefinedClass>();
and
template<>
void doStuff<DefinedClass2>();
I guess that is not the correct syntax (since it is not compiling). How should I do it?
Also, Since I will have not undefined template parameters in doStuff<DefinedClass>, would it be possible to declare the body in a .cpp?
Note: doStuff will use T wihtin its body to declare a variable.
The primary template doesn't get a second pair of template arguments. Just this:
template <typename T> void doStuff() {}
// ^^^^^^^^^
Only the specializations have both a template <> at the front and a <...> after the name, e.g.:
template <> void doStuff<int>() { }
The correct syntax for the primary template is:
template <typename T>
void doStuff() {}
To define a specialisation, do this:
template <>
void doStuff<DefinedClass>() { /* function body here */ }
I guess that is not the correct syntax (since it is not compiling). How should I do it?
doStuff will use T wihtin its body to declare a variable.
template<typename T>
void doStuff()
{
T t = T(); // declare a T type variable
}
would it be possible to declare the body in a .cpp?
C++ only supports inclusive mode only, you can't compile separately then link later.
From comment, if you want to specialize for int type:
template<>
void doStuff<int>()
{
}

How do I fully specialize a function template with a class template?

template <typename T>
void foo(T t)
{
... // do stuff with type T
}
template <typename T>
class class_template
{
// class body
};
template<> // failed attempt at full specialization
void foo(class_template<T> t) // which doesn't work of course
{
//full specialization for all classes of class_template
}
In the above code how do I explicitly specialize function foo with a class template?
In the above code how do I explicitly specialize function foo with a class template?
You cannot. This is the whole point of partial specialisations. But they don’t work for functions.
You have two solutions:
Overload the function. This usually works.
Refer the work to a class template, which can be partially specialised. That is, inside your function, call a (static) function in a class template, and specialise that.

Difference between member functions for a template class defined inside and outside of the class

Is there a difference between defining member functions for a template class inside the class declaration versus outside?
Defined inside:
template <typename T>
class A
{
public:
void method()
{
//...
}
};
Defined outside:
template <typename T>
class B
{
public:
void method();
};
template <typename T>
void B<T>::method()
{
//...
}
For non-template classes, this is the difference between inlined and non-inlined methods. Is this also true for template classes?
The default for most of my colleagues is to provide definitions inside the class, but I've always preferred definitions outside the class. Is my preference justified?
Edit: Please assume all the above code is provided in the header file for the class.
Yes, the exact same is true for template classes.
The reason why method definitions for template classes are usually preferred to be inline is that with templates, the entire definition must be visible when the template is instantiated.
So if you put the function definition in some separate .cpp file, you'll get a linker error.
The only general solution is to make the function inline, either by defining it inside the class or outside with the inline keyword. but in either cases, it must be visible anywhere the function is called, which means it must typically be in the same header as the class definition.
There's no difference, aside from having to type more. That includes the template bit, the inline and having to use more "elaborate" names when referring to the class. For example
template <typename T> class A {
A method(A a) {
// whatever
}
};
template <typename T> inline A<T> A<T>::method(A a) {
// whatever
}
Note that when the method is defined inside you can always omit the template parameter list <T> when referring to A<T> and just use A. When defining it outside, you have to use the "full" name in the return type and in the name of the method (but not in the parameter list).
I know this..I think it must be some what help full to u?
defining a member function outside of its template
It is not ok to provide the definition of a member function of a template class like this:
// This might be in a header file:
template <typename T>
class xyz {
void foo();
};
// ...
// This might be later on in the header file:
void xyz<T>::foo() {
// generic definition of foo()
}
This is wrong for a few reasons. So is this:
void xyz<class T>::foo() {
// generic definition of foo()
}
The proper definition needs the template keyword and the same template arguments that the class template's definition was declared with. So that gives:
template <typename T>
void xyz<T>::foo() {
// generic definition of foo()
}
Note that there are other types of template directives, such as member templates, etc., and each takes on their own form. What's important is to know which you have so you know how to write each flavor. This is so especially since the error messages of some compilers may not be clear as to what is wrong. And of course, get a good and up to date book.
If you have a nested member template within a template:
template <typename T>
struct xyz {
// ...
template <typename U>
struct abc;
// ...
};
How do you define abc outside of xyz? This does not work:
template <typename U>
struct xyz::abc<U> { // Nope
// ...
};
nor does this:
template <typename T, typename U>
struct xyz<T>::abc<U> { // Nope
// ...
};
You would have to do this:
template <typename T>
template <typename U>
struct xyz<T>::abc {
// ...
};
Note that it's ...abc not ...abc<U> because abc is a "primary" template. IOWs, this is not good:
// not allowed here:
template template struct xyz::abc { };