What is the difference between generic classes and function templates?

Generic classes define new data types, while function templates define algorithms. Generic classes are instantiated by specifying type parameters, and function templates are instantiated by calls. Generic classes can inherit, but function templates cannot.

The difference between generic classes and function templates

Generic classesandfunction templatesare both C Powerful tools for creating reusable code. They allow us to create classes and functions that work with multiple data types without writing separate code for each type.

Generic classContains one or more type parameters that specify the behavior of the class. These type parameters are provided when instantiating a class, allowing the class to be customized to a specific data type.

Function Templates Similar to generic classes, but they apply to functions. They contain one or more type parameters that specify the behavior of the function. These type parameters are provided when calling the function, allowing the function to be customized to a specific data type.

Key difference:

• Scope: A generic class defines a new data type, while a function template defines an algorithm .
• Instantiation: Generic classes are instantiated by specifying type parameters using . Function templates call instances by passing type parameters.
• Inheritance: Generic classes can be derived from other generic classes, but function templates cannot.

Practical case:

Generic class:

template<typename T>
class MyVector {
public:
    T* data;
    int size;

    // ... 操作
};

// 实例化：
MyVector<int> intVector;

Function template:

template<typename T>
T max(T a, T b) {
    return (a > b) ? a : b;
}

// 调用：
int maxInt = max<int>(10, 20);

Conclusion:

Generic classes and function templates are both valuable tools for creating reusable code. Understanding their differences is important in choosing the tool that best suits your specific needs. Generic classes are suitable for creating new data types, while function templates are suitable for creating data operations that apply to multiple types.

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