just a simple question about templates

[ntrncx]

I do an exercise and i wrote this code to test templates

#include <iostream>
#include "Date.h"
#include "Time.h"
using namespace std;

template <typename T>
bool compare(T first,T second){
    if (first==second)
        return true;
    else 
        return false;
}

template <class T,class X>
bool compare(T first,X second){
    if (first==second)
        return true;
    else 
        return false;
}

int main()
{
    int a=1;
    int b=2;
    float c=1.1;
    float d=1.11;
    char e='k';
    char f='k';
    Date d1;
    Date d2(26,8,1900);
    Time t1;
    Time t2(13,22,45);
    
    if(compare(d1,d2))
        cout<<d1<<" & "<<d2<<" are Equal!\n";
    else
        cout<<d1<<" & "<<d2<<" are not Equal!\n";
    
    if(compare(t1,t2))
        cout<<t1<<" & "<<t2<<" are Equal!\n";
    else
        cout<<t1<<" & "<<t2<<" are not Equal!\n";
    
    
    if(compare(a,b))
        cout<<a<<" & "<<b<<" are Equal!\n";
    else
        cout<<a<<" & "<<b<<" are not Equal!\n";
    
    if(compare(c,d))
        cout<<c<<" & "<<d<<" are Equal!\n";
    else
        cout<<c<<" & "<<d<<" are not Equal!\n";
    
    if(compare(e,f))
        cout<<e<<" & "<<f<<" are Equal!\n";
    else
        cout<<e<<" & "<<f<<" are not Equal!\n";
    
}

and works just fine.

my question is cause the book doesn't clarify it

at template definition here

template <class T,class X>
T compare(T first,X second){
    if (first==second)
        return true;
    else 
        return false;
}

woudlnt be normal to be like that since the comparison objects are the same?

template <class T>
T compare(T first,T second){
    if (first==second)
        return true;
    else 
        return false;
}

if i do this why i recieve that error

main.cpp: In function `int main()':
main.cpp:35: error: call of overloaded `compare(Date&, Date&)' is ambiguous
main.cpp:7: note: candidates are: bool compare(T, T) [with T = Date]
main.cpp:15: note:                 T compare(T, T) [with T = Date]
main.cpp:40: error: call of overloaded `compare(Time&, Time&)' is ambiguous
main.cpp:7: note: candidates are: bool compare(T, T) [with T = Time]
main.cpp:15: note:                 T compare(T, T) [with T = Time]
main.cpp:46: error: call of overloaded `compare(int&, int&)' is ambiguous
main.cpp:7: note: candidates are: bool compare(T, T) [with T = int]
main.cpp:15: note:                 T compare(T, T) [with T = int]
make[2]: Leaving directory `/cygdrive/c/Users/Haris/Documents/NetBeansProjects/Chapter 14/exercise 14.6 Operator Overload in Templates'
main.cpp:51: error: call of overloaded `compare(float&, float&)' is ambiguous
main.cpp:7: note: candidates are: bool compare(T, T) [with T = float]
main.cpp:15: note:                 T compare(T, T) [with T = float]
main.cpp:56: error: call of overloaded `compare(char&, char&)' is ambiguous
main.cpp:7: note: candidates are: bool compare(T, T) [with T = char]
main.cpp:15: note:                 T compare(T, T) [with T = char]

[Fbody]

Function overloading is based strictly on the arguments of the function. The compiler does not look at the return type of the function to determine overloading, it looks only at the number of arguments and the dataTypes of the arguments. If you have more than one version that has the same argument count and argument types, you're going to experience this situation; it doesn't matter what compiler you're using, it's a language-based behavior, not a compiler-based behavior.

The issue here is that you have two different overloaded versions of the same function that are both based on having 2 arguments of the same type. As a result, it doesn't know which overloaded version to call. This is known, as the compiler points out, as an "ambiguous call". To correct it, you need to get rid of one of the ambiguous versions of the function. Personally, I would get rid of the T compare(T, T) version, its completely useless.

[ntrncx]

You are totally right,the only reason that i did it was cause i thought that template <typename T> is for fundamental types and template <class T> is for user defined types.
so i had to write it but obviously i was wrong,what is the main difference between them?

[vijayan121]

> i thought that template <typename T> is for fundamental types and template <class T> is for user defined types.
> ... what is the main difference between them?

There is no difference.

[ntrncx]

thanks for your answer but doesn't help a lot,i mean if its totally the same why there is not just one?like just the <typename>?