5. Template internals

• Templates need to be visible where they are used, so it's usual to put them entirely in the header file.

• Compilers are required to instantiate only functions that will actually be used!!

  • Therefore good coverage by test driver program is really crucial.

• Clients of templates won't want to know or care that they are using a template,

  • and they shouldn't need to.

• A useful design question for container-style templates:

  • can this container be used on itself?