Template functions within a Class

Could someone tell me what the point of something like this would be...

class Key : public KeyType
{public:
char value[20]

Key(char* newKey)
{strcpy(value, newKey);
}

..sorry that bit of code was not finished when i posted....i'll continue it here..

template<class KeyType>
int operator == (KeyType & right){
if(strcmp(value, right.value) ==0)
return 1;
else
return 0;
}

template <class KeyType>
int operator < (KeyType & right){
if(strcmp(value, right.value) < 0)
return 1;
else
return 0;
}

};

I dont understand what the template <class KeyType> would accomplish here. And does the KeyType refer to the existing class by the name of 'KeyType' or is it treated like a generic name like Class T , ignoring that existing class.

thanks

There is an aliase flaw in your design. The template class is KeyType and it is also derived from KeyType. I assume KeyType is the name of a real class, not what you pass into the template.

template <class T>

Kuphryn

That function can take multiple classes / structures which have a public value member variable. For example, it would work with a class and all of its deriviates.

FYI, you can change you code to:

template<class KeyType>
int operator == (KeyType & right){
return strcmp(value, right.value) == 0;
}

template <class KeyType>
int operator < (KeyType & right){
return strcmp(value, right.value) < 0;
}

There is no reason to ever code
if( something == 7 )
return true;
return false;

:)