I come across this term "dependent names" typically in the context of templates. However, I rarely touch the latter. Thus naturally would like to know more about the concept of dependent names.
How do you understand it in the context of templates and outside of them? example are critically encouraged!
A dependent name is essentially a name that depends on a template argument.
When using templates there is a distinction between the point of definition of the template and the point of instantiation i.e. where you actually use the template. Names that depend on a template don't get bound until the point of instantiation whereas names that don't get bound at the point of definition.
A simple example would be:
template< class T > int addInt( T x )
{
return i + x.toInt();
}
where a declaration or definition of i would need to appear before the definition given above since i does not depend on the template argument T and is therefore bound at the point of definition. The definition of the toInt member of the as-yet-unknown-type x variable only has to appear before the addInt function is actually used somewhere as it is a dependent name ( technically the point of instantiation is taken as the nearest enclosing global or namespace scope just before the point of use and so it has to be available before that ).