C++ Primer Plus

An Array Template Example and Non-Type Arguments

Templates are frequently used for container classes because the idea of type parameters matches well with the need to apply a common storage plan to a variety of types. Indeed, the desire to provide reusable code for container classes was the main motivation for introducing templates, so let’s look at another example and explore a few more facets of template design and use. In particular, let’s look at non-type, or expression, arguments and at using an array to handle an inheritance family.

Let’s begin with a simple array template that lets you specify an array size. One technique, which the last version of the Stack template uses, is to use a dynamic array within the class and a constructor argument ...