What are the best practices in SFINAE?

What are the best practices in SFINAE?

SFINAE, or Substitution Failure Is Not An Error, is a C++ template metaprogramming technique. Best practices include using it to enable or disable template specializations based on type traits, ensuring clear and maintainable code.

Can you give an example of SFINAE in action?

Sure! Here's a simple example: you can use std::enable_if to create a function that only accepts integral types. For instance:

template<typename T>
typename std::enable_if<std::is_integral<T>::value, void>::type
foo(T t) {
    // Function implementation for integral types
}

What are some common pitfalls to avoid with SFINAE?

Common pitfalls include overusing SFINAE, which can lead to complex and hard-to-read code, and not properly understanding type traits, which can cause unexpected behavior.

How does SFINAE compare to other template metaprogramming techniques?

SFINAE is often compared to techniques like tag dispatching or static assertions. While SFINAE allows for more flexible template specialization, tag dispatching can be clearer in intent and easier to read.