c++ template putting implemetation into source file instead of a header

Question

So as the title reads, i want to create a template class and put methods/functions implementations into the relative source file. After some research on the internet i found some perplexing solution with something about making an extra file and including it in the header.

I know that it is possible to place all the implementations inside header file and it will work just fine. Also a side question to that is: Is it commonly acceptable as the best solution to place all the implementations inside header or not because in a comparison to ADT in C you kinda want to hide the implementation in the source file, is it the same case right here?

A little example: Lets say i want a 2-D plane of dots that are characters and i want to use the following code.

Point.h

#ifndef POINT_H_
#define POINT_H_

template <class T>
class Point {
    T* x;
    T* y;
public:
    Point();
};

#endif

Point.cpp

#include "Point.h"

template <class T>
Point<T>::Point(){
    x=new T;
    y=new T;
}

NathanOliver i asked how to do it the other way and not why... Thank you. — Michael Fade, Aug 29 '16 at 17:28
The top answer [here](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/495021/why-can-templates-only-be-implemented-in-the-header-file) tells you why and how you can split the implementation from the header file. — NathanOliver, Aug 29 '16 at 17:29
You can explicitly instantiate in cpp file, and only those types would be usable. — Jarod42, Aug 29 '16 at 17:33
Can you be more clear about your question, I am slightly confused by what you are asking.... — Arnav Borborah, Aug 29 '16 at 17:33
In this case the problem would go away if you stored `T`s in the class, instead of pointers... — Bo Persson, Aug 29 '16 at 17:37
All i've wanted is an upvote for a question to get the student badge to be able to upvote others... — Michael Fade, Aug 29 '16 at 18:44
TL:DR would be: How to write Template classes in 2 separate files aka source and header. — Michael Fade, Aug 29 '16 at 19:12

c++ template putting implemetation into source file instead of a header

Point.h

Point.cpp

0 Answers0