What are some examples of template programming?

What are some examples of template programming?

Template programming is a technique in programming that allows functions and classes to operate with generic types. For example, in C++, you can create a template for a function that can work with any data type.

Can you give me a specific example in C++?

Sure! Here's a simple example of a template function in C++ that swaps two values:

template <typename T>
void swap(T &a, T &b) {
    T temp = a;
    a = b;
    b = temp;
}

This function can swap integers, floats, or any other data type.

What about template programming in Python?

In Python, we use functions and classes with type hints to achieve similar functionality. For example:

def swap(a: T, b: T) -> Tuple[T, T]:
    return b, a

This function can also swap values of any type.

Are there any downsides to using template programming?

Yes, one downside is that it can lead to code bloat, as the compiler generates separate versions of the template for each type used. Additionally, debugging template code can be more complex.