C++ template specialization on functions

Question

I'm playing around with template specialization, and I've found an issue I can't seem to solve; this is my code:

template<int length, typename T>
void test(T* array)
{
    ...
    test<length-1>(array);
}

template<typename T>
void test<0>(T* array)
{
    return;
}

So what I'm trying to do, is to pass the length, of what's to be processed in the template.

The problem is, that the compilation of this, well outputs forever:

a.cpp:83:43: error: template-id 'test<0>' in declaration of primary template
a.cpp: In function 'void test(T*) [with int length= -0x000000081, T = int]':
a.cpp:77:9:   instantiated from 'void test(T*) [with int length= -0x000000080, T = int]'
a.cpp:77:9:   instantiated from 'void test(T*) [with int length= -0x00000007f, T = int]'
a.cpp:77:9:   [ skipping 151 instantiation contexts ]
a.cpp:77:9:   instantiated from 'void test(T*) [with int length= 28, T = int]'
a.cpp:77:9:   instantiated from 'void test(T*) [with int length= 29, T = int]'
...
a.cpp: In function 'void test(T*) [with int length= -0x000000082, T = int]':
a.cpp:77:9:   instantiated from 'void test(T*) [with int length= -0x000000081, T = int]'
a.cpp:77:9:   instantiated from 'void test(T*) [with int length= -0x000000080, T = int]'

Last two lines, is pretty much the same as the first ones.

To me it would seem, its not catching the specialization, hence:

a.cpp:83:43: error: template-id 'test<0>' in declaration of primary template

Am I correct?

And if I'm correct, I'm guessing it's the issue that partial template specialisation is not allowed for function templates, so what would be the solution then, making a struct, and using specialisation on that?

Answer 1

Partial specialization of function templates is not allowed. Herb Sutter explains why in his article "Why Not Specialize Function Templates?".

To work around this limitation you need to use class templates instead. You can then write a regular function template that uses that class template.

That specific error you're getting is because you forgot the second parameter in your specialization. If you this instead:

template<int length, typename T>
void test(T* array)
{
    //...
    test<length-1,T>(array);
}


template<typename T>
void test<0,T>(T* array)
{
    return;
}

GCC complains with the following:

error: function template partial specialization 'test<0, T>' is not allowed

Answer 2

Functions cannot be partially specialized. To work around this, have your template function call a function in a class:

template<int length, typename T>
struct helper
{
    static void go(T* array)
    {
        ...
        helper<length-1, T>::go(array);
    }
};

template<typename T>
struct helper<0, T>
{
    static void go(T* array)
    {
        ...
    }
};

template<int length, typename T>
void test(T* array)
{
    ...
    helper<length, T>::go(array);
}