Compiler Error C2768

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The latest version of this topic can be found at Compiler Error C2768.

function' : illegal use of explicit template arguments

The compiler was unable to determine if a function definition was supposed to be an explicit specialization of a function template or if the function definition was supposed to be for a new function.

This error was introduced in Visual Studio .NET 2003, as part of the compiler conformance enhancements.

The following sample generates C2768:

// C2768.cpp  
template<typename T>  
void f(T) {}  
  
void f<int>(int) {}   // C2768  
  
// an explicit specialization  
template<>  
void f<int>(int) {}   
  
// global nontemplate function overload  
void f(int) {}