function non-template versus fully specialized function template

[Robert Allan Schwartz]

Starting with:

// a primary function template:
template <typename T>
inline
void dumb(T & x)
{
x = 1;
}

What is the difference between:

// A:

// a fully specialized function template:
template <>
inline
void dumb(int & x)
{
x = 2;
}

and:

// B:

// a function non-template:
inline
void dumb(int & x)
{
x = 2;
}

What would make me choose A versus B, or vice versa?

Thanks for your help!

Robert Schwartz

 

[Victor Bazarov]

Starting with:

// a primary function template:
template <typename T>
inline
void dumb(T & x)
{
x = 1;
}

What is the difference between:

// A:

// a fully specialized function template:
template <>
inline
void dumb(int & x)
{
x = 2;
}

and:

// B:

// a function non-template:
inline
void dumb(int & x)
{
x = 2;
}

What would make me choose A versus B, or vice versa?

It most cases, if the function _is_ used, there is no real difference.
However, the template will not be instantiated if it's not used, while
a regular function might (even if it's declared 'inline'). Modern
linkers often discard unused libraries from the final application when
linking the object modules, but it's not a feature of the language.

Victor