How do I check my template class is of a specific classtype?

Question

In my template-ized function, I\'m trying to check the type T is of a specific type. How would I do that?

p/s I knew the template specification way but I don\'t want

Answer 1

You can perform static checks on the type that you have received (look at the boost type traits library), but unless you use specialization (or overloads, as @litb correctly points out) at one point or another, you will not be able to provide different specific implementations depending on the argument type.

Unless you have a particular reason (which you could add to the question) not to use the specialization in the interface just do specialize.

template <> int subtract( std::string const & str );

Answer 2

Instead of checking for the type use specializations. Otherwise, don't use templates.

template<class T> int foo(T a) {
      // generic implementation
}
template<> int foo(SpecialType a) {
  // will be selected by compiler 
}

SpecialType x;
OtherType y;
foo(x); // calls second, specialized version
foo(y); // calls generic version