C++ Template Question


template <size_t N>
void print_members(int (&arr)[N]) { ... }

so is C++ going to create a new function for every different sized array I use

>>2
the compiler could try to implement the function as:


void print_members(int* arr, int N) { ... }

it would work alright as long as the function was invoked as:


print_members<SOME_CONSTANT>(arr);

But you run into problems as soon as the programmer does:


void (*fn)(int*) = print_members<SOME_CONSTANT>;

because now you have to somehow store the SOME_CONSTANT parameter in the function pointer, which just doesn't work. So the implementation above can't always be used. Basically, every time [code]print_members<SOME_CONSTANT> is referenced but not called, it needs to point to some code that does what is described. But if you are just calling it, then you are free to call a different function with an extra hidden parameter to get the same effect.