template return type

[eyali]

Hi All


I'm a little confused...

Say I have thr following function declaration

template <class T>
T& f(int x);

When I want to execute it like this

int main()
{
    f(3); 
}

does not compile

but

int main()
{
    f<float>(3); 
}

does compile. Why? and how can I implemet shuch a function?

Thank u in advance
Eyal

[vlad from moscow]

Well think about how will the compiler know what is the return type of the function when you call it as f( 3 )?

[eyali]

I don't see how it knows what the return even when writting

f<float>(3);

lets say for example the f takes int and return it twice the value how to implement it like the above declaration?

Thx

[vlad from moscow]

When you have written f<float>(3); you have explicitly specified that the template type parameter T corresponds to float. So the compiler will be happy.:)

[eyali]

I see now.

Thank u for ur help :)