For templates I have seen both declarations:
template < typename T >
template < class T >
What\'s the difference?
And what exactly do those keywords mean in the following example (taken from the German Wikipedia article about templates)?
template < template < typename, typename > class Container, typename Type >
class Example
{
Container< Type, std::allocator < Type > > baz;
};
typename
and class
are interchangeable in the basic case of specifying a template:
template<class T>
class Foo
{
};
and
template<typename T>
class Foo
{
};
are equivalent.
Having said that, there are specific cases where there is a difference between typename
and class
.
The first one is in the case of dependent types. typename
is used to declare when you are referencing a nested type that depends on another template parameter, such as the typedef
in this example:
template<typename param_t>
class Foo
{
typedef typename param_t::baz sub_t;
};
The second one you actually show in your question, though you might not realize it:
template < template < typename, typename > class Container, typename Type >
When specifying a template template, the class
keyword MUST be used as above -- it is not interchangeable with typename
in this case (note: since C++17 both keywords are allowed in this case).
You also must use class
when explicitly instantiating a template:
template class Foo<int>;
I\'m sure that there are other cases that I\'ve missed, but the bottom line is: these two keywords are not equivalent, and these are some common cases where you need to use one or the other.
For naming template parameters, typename
and class
are equivalent. §14.1.2:
There is no semantic difference
between class and typename in a
template-parameter.
typename
however is possible in another context when using templates - to hint at the compiler that you are referring to a dependent type. §14.6.2:
A name used in a template declaration
or definition and that is dependent on
a template-parameter is assumed not to
name a type unless the applicable name
lookup finds a type name or the name
is qualified by the keyword typename.
Example:
typename some_template<T>::some_type
Without typename
the compiler can\'t tell in general whether you are referring to a type or not.
While there is no technical difference, I have seen the two used to denote slightly different things.
For a template that should accept any type as T, including built-ins (such as an array )
template<typename T>
class Foo { ... }
For a template that will only work where T is a real class.
template<class T>
class Foo { ... }
But keep in mind that this is purely a style thing some people use. Not mandated by the standard or enforced by compilers
This piece of snippet is from c++ primer book. Although I am sure this is wrong.
Each type parameter must be preceded by the keyword class or typename:
// error: must precede U with either typename or class
template <typename T, U> T calc(const T&, const U&);
These keywords have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably inside a template parameter list. A template parameter list can use both keywords:
// ok: no distinction between typename and class in a template parameter list
template <typename T, class U> calc (const T&, const U&);
It may seem more intuitive to use the keyword typename rather than class to designate a template type parameter. After all, we can use built-in (nonclass) types as a template type argument. Moreover, typename more clearly indicates that the name that follows is a type name. However, typename was added to C++ after templates were already in widespread use; some programmers continue to use class exclusively