Can C Class Member Function Templates Be Virtual?

Can a Class Member Function Template Be Virtual?

It is a common misconception that class member function templates in C cannot be virtual. However, this notion is incorrect.

Virtual functions are dynamic in nature, meaning their resolution is determined at runtime based on the actual object's type. On the other hand, function templates, including class member function templates, are resolved at compile time.

Since compile time and runtime concepts conflict here, it would seem that virtual member function templates are impossible. This, however, is not entirely true.

While it is not possible to directly declare a class member function template as virtual, there are techniques that combine polymorphism and templates to achieve similar functionality. One such technique is known as "type erasure."

Type erasure involves removing the concrete type information from an object, allowing it to be treated polymorphically even though its actual type is unknown at compile time. This can be achieved using function pointers, inheritance, or other techniques.

By combining type erasure and templates, it is possible to create virtual-like behavior for member function templates, allowing for polymorphic behavior at runtime based on the actual type of the object.

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