Templates
C++ templates enable you to define a family of functions or classes that can operate on different types of information. The Microsoft implementation of C++ templates is based on the ISO/ANSI C++ Standard.
Use templates in situations that result in duplication of the same code for multiple types. For example, you can use function templates to create a set of functions that apply the same algorithm to different data types. You can also use class templates to develop a set of typesafe classes. Templates are sometimes a better solution than C macros and void pointers, and they are especially useful when working with collections (one of the main uses for templates in MFC) and smart pointers.
In This Section
- Overview
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Provides general information about templates, or parameterized types, in Visual C++.
- Specifications
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Provides a specification for a template declaration.
- typename
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Describes the typename keyword.
- Referencing Templates [C++ Language]
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Provides a task showing how to reference templates in your code.
- Angle Bracket Placement
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Describes how angle brackets are placed in templates.
- Differences from Other Implementations
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Discusses Microsoft-specific implementations of templates.
- Name Resolution
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Discusses the three types of names in template definitions.
- Class Templates
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Describes how to use and work with class templates.
- Function Templates
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Describes how to use and work with function templates.