When Are Templates Instantiated?

When a function template is first called for each type, the compiler creates an instantiation. Each instantiation is a version of the templated function specialized for the type. This instantiation will be called every time the function is used for the type.

Are templates instantiated at compile time?

Instantiation is the process by which a C++ compiler creates a usable function or object from a template. The C++ compiler uses compile-time instantiation, which forces instantiations to occur when the reference to the template is being compiled.

What is the instantiation of the class template?

The act of creating a new definition of a function, class, or member of a class from a template declaration and one or more template arguments is called template instantiation. The definition created from a template instantiation to handle a specific set of template arguments is called a specialization.