This is an unofficial snapshot of the ISO/IEC JTC1 SC22 WG21 Core Issues List revision 114a. See http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/ for the official list.

2024-04-18

481. Scope of template parameters

[Voted into WP at October, 2009 meeting.]

Sections 6.4.3 [basic.scope.block] to 6.4.7 [basic.scope.class] define and summarize different kinds of scopes in a C++ program. However it is missing a description for the scope of template parameters. I believe a section is needed there — even though some information may be found in clause 14.

Proposed resolution (September, 2009):

1. Insert the following as a new paragraph following 6.4.2 [basic.scope.pdecl] paragraph 8:

The point of declaration of a template parameter is immediately after its complete template-parameter. [Example:

  typedef unsigned char T;
  template<class T
       = T         // Lookup finds the typedef name of unsigned char.

       , T         //Lookup finds the template parameter.
           N = 0> struct A {};

—end example]

2. Delete 13.2 [temp.param] paragraph 14:

A template-parameter shall not be used in its own default argument.

[Drafting note: This change conflicts with the resolution for issue 187 but is in accord with widespread implementation practice.]

3. Insert the following as a new section following 6.4.8 [basic.scope.enum]:

Template Parameter Scope [basic.scope.temp]

The declarative region of the name of a template parameter of a template template-parameter is the smallest template-parameter-list in which the name was introduced.

The declarative region of the name of a template parameter of a template is the smallest template-declaration in which the name was introduced. Only template parameter names belong to this declarative region; any other kind of name introduced by the declaration of a template-declaration is instead introduced into the same declarative region where it would be introduced as a result of a non-template declaration of the same name. [Example:

  namespace N {
    template<class T> struct A{};               // line 2
    template<class U> void f(U){}               // line 3
    struct B {
      template<class V>friend int g(struct C*); // line 5
    };
  }

The declarative regions of T, U and V are the template-declarations on lines 2, 3 and 5, respectively. But the names A, f, g and C all belong to the same declarative region—namely, the namespace-body of N. (g is still considered to belong to this declarative region in spite of its being hidden during qualified and unqualified name lookup.) —end example]

The potential scope of a template parameter name begins at its point of declaration (6.4.2 [basic.scope.pdecl]) and ends at the end of its declarative region. [Note: this implies that a template-parameter can be used in the declaration of subsequent template-parameters and their default arguments but cannot be used in preceding template-parameters or their default arguments. For example,

  template<class T, T* p, class U = T> class X { /* ... */ };
  template<class T> void f(T* p = new T);

This also implies that a template-parameter can be used in the specification of base classes. For example,

  template<class T> class X : public Array<T> { /* ... */ };
  template<class T> class Y : public T { /* ... */ };

The use of a template parameter as a base class implies that a class used as a template argument must be defined and not just declared when the class template is instantiated. —end note]

The declarative region of the name of a template parameter is nested within the immediately-enclosing declarative region. [Note: as a result, a template-parameter hides any entity with the same name in an enclosing scope (_N4868_.6.4.10 [basic.scope.hiding]). [Example:

  typedef int N;
  template<N X, typename N, template<N Y> class T>
    struct A;

Here, X is a non-type template parameter of type int and Y is a non-type template parameter of the same type as the second template parameter of A. —end example] —end note]

[Note: because the name of a template parameter cannot be redeclared within its potential scope (13.8.2 [temp.local]), a template parameter's scope is often its potential scope. However, it is still possible for a template parameter name to be hidden; see 13.8.2 [temp.local]. —end note]

4. Delete 13.2 [temp.param] paragraph 13, including the example:

The scope of a template-parameter extends...

5. Delete 13.8.2 [temp.local] paragraph 6, including the note and example:

The scope of a template-parameter extends...