14 Templates [temp]

14.3 Template arguments [temp.arg]

14.3.2 Template non-type arguments [temp.arg.nontype]

If the type of a template-parameter contains a placeholder type ([dcl.spec.auto], [temp.param]), the deduced parameter type is determined from the type of the template-argument by placeholder type deduction ([dcl.type.auto.deduct]). If a deduced parameter type is not permitted for a template-parameter declaration ([temp.param]), the program is ill-formed.

A template-argument for a non-type template-parameter shall be a converted constant expression ([expr.const]) of the type of the template-parameter. For a non-type template-parameter of reference or pointer type, the value of the constant expression shall not refer to (or for a pointer type, shall not be the address of):

Note: If the template-argument represents a set of overloaded functions (or a pointer or member pointer to such), the matching function is selected from the set ([over.over]).  — end note ]

Example:

template<const int* pci> struct X { /* ... */ };
int ai[10];
X<ai> xi;                       // array to pointer and qualification conversions

struct Y { /* ... */ };
template<const Y& b> struct Z { /* ... */ };
Y y;
Z<y> z;                         // no conversion, but note extra cv-qualification

template<int (&pa)[5]> struct W { /* ... */ };
int b[5];
W<b> w;                         // no conversion

void f(char);
void f(int);

template<void (*pf)(int)> struct A { /* ... */ };

A<&f> a;                        // selects f(int)

template<auto n> struct B { /* ... */ };
B<5> b1;   // OK: template parameter type is int
B<'a'> b2; // OK: template parameter type is char
B<2.5> b3; // error: template parameter type cannot be double

 — end example ]

Note: A string literal ([lex.string]) is not an acceptable template-argument. [ Example:

template<class T, const char* p> class X {
  /* ... */
};

X<int, "Studebaker"> x1;        // error: string literal as template-argument

const char p[] = "Vivisectionist";
X<int,p> x2;                    // OK

 — end example ]  — end note ]

Note: The address of an array element or non-static data member is not an acceptable template-argument. [ Example:

template<int* p> class X { };

int a[10];
struct S { int m; static int s; } s;

X<&a[2]> x3;                    // error: address of array element
X<&s.m> x4;                     // error: address of non-static member
X<&s.s> x5;                     // OK: address of static member
X<&S::s> x6;                    // OK: address of static member

 — end example ]  — end note ]

Note: A temporary object is not an acceptable template-argument when the corresponding template-parameter has reference type. [ Example:

template<const int& CRI> struct B { /* ... */ };

B<1> b2;                        // error: temporary would be required for template argument

int c = 1;
B<c> b1;                        // OK

 — end example ]  — end note ]