Compiler Error C2783

  • Article

'declaration' : could not deduce template argument for 'identifier'

The compiler cannot determine a template argument. Default arguments cannot be used to deduce a template argument.

The following sample generates C2783:

// C2783.cpp
template<typename T1, typename T2>
T1 f(T2) {
   return 248;
}

int main() {
   f(1);   // C2783
   // try the following line instead
   int i = f<int>(1);
}

C2783 can also occur when using generics:

// C2783b.cpp
// compile with: /clr
using namespace System;
generic<typename T1, typename T2> 
T1 gf(T2) {
   T1 t1 = safe_cast<T1>( Activator::CreateInstance(T1::typeid));
   return t1;
}

ref class MyClass{};

int main() {
   int i;
   i = gf(9);   // C2783

   // OK
   i = gf<int>(9);
}