Restricting the size of an array when passed to a function

Question

Is there anyway to restrict the size of an array when passed as an argument to a function?

I mean is something like this possible?

/*following will lead to compile time error */

template<typename T, size_t n>=20> // or template<typename T,size_t n<=20>
void func(T (&a)[n])
{
   // do something with a

}

I want the size of my array to be at least(or at most) n(n can have any value).

For example:

When n=20 I must pass an array with at least(or at most) 20 elements. Is there any way in C++ for this?

Answer 1

You can simply make the requirement a static assertion - e.g. with Boosts static assert:

template<typename T, size_t n> 
void func(T (&a)[n]) {
    BOOST_STATIC_ASSERT(n >= 20);
    // ...
}

A basic custom implementation (not solving the problem of using it more then once per scope) might look like the following:

template<bool b> struct StaticAssert;
template<> struct StaticAssert<true> {};
#define STATIC_ASSERT(x) StaticAssert<(x)> static_asserter 

If you want different behaviour if the requirement is met, use something like enable_if or tag-based specialization. Example using enable_if:

template<class T, size_t n>
typename boost::enable_if<(n >= 20), void>::type
func(T (&a)[n]) { /* ... */ }

template<class T, size_t n>
typename boost::disable_if<(n >= 20), void>::type
func(T (&a)[n]) { /* ... */ }

Answer 2

You are trying to use templates (compile time) to know how many items will be in your array at runtime. It is not possible to do like you try to do it.

You will have to rely on code outside your function or inside the function

Answer 3

There isn't such a construct in C++, that allows you to receive a compile time error. But I think that using templates you could implement a framework containing something like a LimitedArray class to be used instead of a basic array type.

Answer 4

GF's answer is correct, if you want more features or decisions points at compile time, you might want to look at boost::mpl. C++ Template Metaprogramming outlines what is possible with boost::MPL and how it was designed. Modern C++ design, which is not related to MPL, goes into design techniques which leverage compile time polymorphism

Answer 5

GF's answer is pretty cool, but Boost.Array can't go without mention.

template< typename T >
void func( boost::array< T, 20 > &a ) {

Given your question and GF's answer, it looks like a computationally free, type- and range-safe implicit conversion from T(&)[20] to some_array_template<T,20> would be semantically possible, but boost::array doesn't allow that. Still, you might consider moving entirely to boost::array if you have lots of similar logic. And it's simple enough to use as a basis to roll your own, if you do want implicit conversion.