BUG: C2059 Error on Out-Of-Class Definition of Member Templates

View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q241949

SYMPTOMS

The following error message appears if you define a member template class or function outside the class:

error C2059: syntax error : ''template<''
error C2065: 'T' : undeclared identifier

Back to the top

CAUSE

The compiler does not support out-of-class definition of member template functions and classes. Please refer to the C++ Standard, section 14.5.2, for information on member templates.

Back to the top

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

Back to the top

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

The following code example demonstrates the error:

//test.cpp
// compiler option needed: none

template<class T> class string {
public:
	template<class T2> int compare(const T2&);
	template<class T2> string(const string<T2>& s) {}  // inline definition OK 
	//  ...
};
 
template <class T> template<class T2> int string<T>::compare(const T2& s)
				// error C2059 and C2065 
{
	//  ...		// Out-of-class-definition		
}

Back to the top