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aznluvsmc · Oct 6th, 2005, 10:49 PM

Assuming I have the following code below.

template <class T> T maxn(T num[], int n)
{
    T largest = num[0];
    while (n-- > 0)
    {
        if (num[n] > largest)
            largest = num[n];
    }
    return largest;
}

template <> char * maxn(char *string[], int n)
{
    char *longest = string[0];
    while (n-- > 0)
    {
        if (strlen(string[n]) > strlen(longest))
            longest = string[n];
    }
    return longest;
}

Why do I really need the template <> declaration in front of the second function to say it's a specialization? If I take out the template <> it still compiles and works the same. Can someone clarify this for me?

Oct 6th, 2005, 10:49 PM	#1
aznluvsmc Hobbyist Programmer Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 137 Rep Power: 4	Function Template Question Assuming I have the following code below. (Toggle Plain Text) template <class T> T maxn(T num[], int n) { T largest = num[0]; while (n-- > 0) { if (num[n] > largest) largest = num[n]; } return largest; } template <> char * maxn(char string[], int n) { char longest = string[0]; while (n-- > 0) { if (strlen(string[n]) > strlen(longest)) longest = string[n]; } return longest; } template <class T> T maxn(T num[], int n) { T largest = num[0]; while (n-- > 0) { if (num[n] > largest) largest = num[n]; } return largest; } template <> char * maxn(char string[], int n) { char longest = string[0]; while (n-- > 0) { if (strlen(string[n]) > strlen(longest)) longest = string[n]; } return longest; } Why do I really need the template <> declaration in front of the second function to say it's a specialization? If I take out the template <> it still compiles and works the same. Can someone clarify this for me?