Example
In contrast of a full template specialization partial template specialization allows to introduce template with some of the arguments of existing template fixed. Partial template specialization is only available for template class/structs:
// Common case:
template<typename T, typename U>
struct S {
T t_val;
U u_val;
};
// Special case when the first template argument is fixed to int
template<typename V>
struct S<int, V> {
double another_value;
int foo(double arg) {// Do something}
};
As shown above, partial template specializations may introduce completely different sets of data and function members.
When a partially specialized template is instantiated, the most suitable specialization is selected. For example, let's define a template and two partial specializations:
template<typename T, typename U, typename V>
struct S {
static void foo() {
std::cout << "General case\n";
}
};
template<typename U, typename V>
struct S<int, U, V> {
static void foo() {
std::cout << "T = int\n";
}
};
template<typename V>
struct S<int, double, V> {
static void foo() {
std::cout << "T = int, U = double\n";
}
};
Now the following calls:
S<std::string, int, double>::foo();
S<int, float, std::string>::foo();
S<int, double, std::string>::foo();
will print
General case
T = int
T = int, U = double
Function templates may only be fully specialized:
template<typename T, typename U>
void foo(T t, U u) {
std::cout << "General case: " << t << " " << u << std::endl;
}
// OK.
template<>
void foo<int, int>(int a1, int a2) {
std::cout << "Two ints: " << a1 << " " << a2 << std::endl;
}
void invoke_foo() {
foo(1, 2.1); // Prints "General case: 1 2.1"
foo(1,2); // Prints "Two ints: 1 2"
}
// Compilation error: partial function specialization is not allowed.
template<typename U>
void foo<std::string, U>(std::string t, U u) {
std::cout << "General case: " << t << " " << u << std::endl;
}
