What is the difference between SFINAE and template specialization?

What is the difference between SFINAE and template specialization?

SFINAE stands for Substitution Failure Is Not An Error, and it's a principle in C++ template metaprogramming. It allows the compiler to ignore certain template instantiations if they fail, rather than producing a compilation error. Template specialization, on the other hand, allows you to define a specific implementation of a template for a particular type.

Can you give an example of SFINAE in action?

Sure! Here's a simple example: suppose you have a template function that only works for integral types. You can use SFINAE to enable this function only for those types by using std::enable_if.

What about template specialization? How does that work?

Template specialization allows you to define a specific version of a template for a particular type. For instance, you can create a specialized version of a template class for std::string that behaves differently than the general template.

Are there any performance implications of using SFINAE?

Yes, using SFINAE can lead to more complex template instantiations, which might increase compile times. However, it can also lead to more optimized code by allowing the compiler to choose the best implementation.