template instanciation is when you give a to a template class a template parameter.
Like:
v is an instanciation of a template.
Specialization is more complex but let me try to explain it simply.
- template<class T>
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class vector { }; //base template
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template<class T>
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class vector<T *> //partial specialization
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{ };
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template<>
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class vector<string> //complete specialization
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{ };
The compiler will choose each implentation is the better one regarding the template paramameters. Each specialization is a complete distinct class from the the base template. But this allows optimization and/or custom behaviour regarding different type using the same syntax.
- vector<int> vi; //defaut template is used
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vector<int *> vip; //vector<T*> is used
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vector<string> vs; //vector<string> is used
this offers lots of room for optimization, but for a vector user it is always a vector that is used.
I hope this helps.
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