How does generic programming of C++ functions achieve code reuse?

Generic programming in C uses templates to create generic functions that can handle any type. It improves code reusability and reduces errors. Examples include generic comparison functions that can be used to compare any two types of objects. Practical examples, such as sorting algorithms, show how generic comparison functions can be used to sort different types of data.

Generic programming of C functions to achieve code reuse

Generic programming is a powerful technology that allows you Write code that works with various types of data. By using templates in C, you can create generic functions that can handle any type. This improves code reusability and reduces the number of bugs.

Example: Comparison Functions

Consider the following comparison functions:

bool compareInts(int a, int b) {
  return a < b;
}

bool compareStrings(const std::string& a, const std::string& b) {
  return a < b;
}

These functions can be used to compare two specific types of objects. But what if you need to compare objects of different types? You can use a generic function:

template <typename T>
bool compare(const T& a, const T& b) {
  return a < b;
}

This function template takes a template parameter T, allowing you to use any type as the input type. This allows you to compare two objects of any type:

int a = 10;
int b = 20;
bool result = compare(a, b); // true

std::string name1 = "John";
std::string name2 = "Alice";
bool result = compare(name1, name2); // false

Practical Example: Sorting Algorithm

Let us use the generic comparison function to implement a sorting algorithm:

template <typename T>
void sort(std::vector<T>& v) {
  for (size_t i = 0; i < v.size(); ++i) {
    for (size_t j = i + 1; j < v.size(); ++j) {
      if (compare(v[i], v[j])) {
        std::swap(v[i], v[j]); // swap elements
      }
    }
  }
}

This function template takes a vector as input and sorts the elements in the vector using the compare function. It can be used for any type according to your needs:

std::vector<int> ints = {1, 5, 2, 4, 3};
sort(ints); // ints will be sorted in ascending order

std::vector<std::string> names = {"John", "Alice", "Bob", "Carol"};
sort(names); // names will be sorted in lexicographical order

Conclusion

With generic programming, you can write reusable code without having to write a lot of specific functions. This technique is particularly useful for algorithms that need to process various types of data, such as sorting or searching.

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