What are the best practices for using templates in C++?

What are the best practices for using templates in C++?

When using templates in C++, it's important to keep your code readable and maintainable. Here are some best practices:

1. Use meaningful names for template parameters.
2. Limit the number of template parameters to avoid complexity.
3. Prefer type traits and concepts to enforce constraints on template parameters.
4. Document your templates well to help others understand their usage.

Can you explain what type traits are?

Type traits are a set of template classes in the C++ standard library that provide compile-time information about types. They allow you to query properties of types, such as whether a type is an integral type or whether it is a pointer. This can be useful for creating more generic and type-safe templates.

How can I improve the performance of my template code?

To improve the performance of your template code, consider the following:

1. Use inline functions to reduce function call overhead.
2. Avoid unnecessary template instantiations by using extern for template definitions.
3. Use constexpr where possible to enable compile-time evaluations.
4. Profile your code to identify bottlenecks and optimize accordingly.

What are concepts in C++20?

Concepts in C++20 are a way to specify constraints on template parameters. They allow you to define requirements that types must meet to be used with a template. This makes your templates easier to use and understand, as it provides clearer error messages when a type does not satisfy the required constraints.