How do we start learning about C++ templates?
When starting with C++, learn about the following templates programming topics:
- Basic function template declaration
- Basic class template declaration
- Template specialization
The right amount of template introduction
Generic programming using templates in C++ is a complex topic. In the beginning, only a brief introduction to C++ template programming is advised. It can be helpful because:
- The entire C++ Standard Library is implemented through templates
- We can better understand how to deal with verbose, template-related compilation errors
When starting with C++, do not spend too much time learning about templates, because, in the beginning, we need to learn about C++ and the C++ Standard Library basics first. Templates are a complex topic and can be seen as a language within a language. That is why only a brief, basic template introduction is advised initially.
