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c++templatescompile-timetemplate-templates

C++ Templates as arguments for templates


I ran into the following problem. I have the following template Number:

template<int n>
struct Number
{
    static const int value = n;
};

Suppose now that I want to add two such Numbers at compile time. Specifically, I want to get the following snippet to work:

//The following code should display 7:
std::cout << Number_add< Number<3>, Number<4> >::value << std::endl;

I tried something like this, but my compiler doesn't like it.

template<Number<int> n1, Number<int> n2>
struct Number_add
{
    static const int value = n1::value + n2::value;
}

What is the correct way to implement Number_add? I think that template template parameters might be needed here, but I couldn't get that to work either. Help would be greatly appreciated.


Solution

  • Number<int> cannot be used as a non-type template parameter because User defined classes aren't one of the allowed types. The allowed types are (reproduced from cppreference.com):

    • std::nullptr_t (since C++11);
    • integral type;
    • lvalue reference type (to object or to function);
    • pointer type (to object or to function);
    • pointer to member type (to member object or to member function);
    • enumeration type.

    You can simply do as n.m suggested in the comments

    template<typename n1, typename n2>
    struct Number_add
    {
        static const int value = n1::value + n2::value;
    }