Question

I am confused. I never seem to decide what to use, a template or an overloaded function. Overloads need more coding. So in what cases is it preferred to use templates and in what overloaded functions?

For example, i recently had to take this decision while making a small GBA game. There were two types u16 and int and i decided to use overloaded functions.

inline void Point::Move(int x, int y) {_ix += x; _iy += y; }
inline void Point::Move(u16 x, u16 y) {_ix += (int) x; _iy += (int) y; }

should I have used a template instead? And in what cases should I use an overloaded function?

Answer 1

Basic Rule should be:

Use Templates when you want to perform same functionality/Operations on different data types.

Use overloaded functions when you want to perform different functionality/Operations on different/same data types

Also, A good measure of when you really need a overloaded function over template is when you are making too many explicit specializations for a templated version of function.

In your example if you performing same operations in both the versions of the functions, You should use templates, else you should use Overloaded function.