What is the difference between template inheritance and composition?

What is the difference between template inheritance and composition?

Template inheritance is a design pattern where a class derives from another class, inheriting its properties and methods. Composition, on the other hand, involves building classes using instances of other classes, allowing for more flexible and reusable code.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! In template inheritance, you might have a base class Animal and a derived class Dog that inherits from Animal. In composition, you could have a class Car that uses an instance of a Engine class to define its behavior.

Which one is better to use?

It depends on the situation. Template inheritance can lead to tight coupling, while composition promotes loose coupling and flexibility. Many developers prefer composition for its reusability.

Are there any downsides to using composition?

Yes, while composition offers flexibility, it can also lead to more complex code structures and may require more boilerplate code to set up relationships between classes.