Using Extern Template (C++11)
Figure 1: Function Templates Templheader. H Template Void F(); Templcpp. Cpp Template Void F(){ //. .. } //Explicit Instantation Template Void F(); Main. Cpp...
Figure 1: function templates
TemplHeader.h
template<typename T>
void f();
TemplCpp.cpp
template<typename T>
void f(){
//...
}
//explicit instantation
template void f<T>();
Main.cpp
#include "TemplHeader.h"
extern template void f<T>(); //is this correct?
int main() {
f<char>();
return 0;
}
Is this the correct way to use extern template, or do I use this keyword only for class templates as in Figure 2?
Must Read
Figure 2: class templates
TemplHeader.h
template<typename T>
class foo {
T f();
};
TemplCpp.cpp
template<typename T>
void foo<T>::f() {
//...
}
//explicit instantation
template class foo<int>;
Main.cpp
#include "TemplHeader.h"
extern template class foo<int>();
int main() {
foo<int> test;
return 0;
}
I know it is good to put all of this in one header file, but if we instantiate templates with the same parameters in multiple files, then we got multiple same definitions and the compiler will remove them all (except one) to avoid errors. How do I use extern template? Can we use it only for classes, or can we use it for functions too?
Also, Figure 1 and Figure 2 may be expanded to a solution where templates are in a single header file . In that case, we need to use the extern template keyword to avoid multiple same instantations. Is this only for classes or functions too?
