1 Introduction

In C++ we can easily form a template that will take a class template as its parameter. With C++14 we got variable templates. They proved to be useful in many domains but still are not first-class citizens in C++. For example, they cannot be passed as a template parameter to a template. This document proposes adding such a feature.

2 Motivation and Scope

To check if the current type is an instantiation of a class template we can write the following type trait:

template<typename T>
struct is_ratio : std::false_type {};

template<intmax_t Num, intmax_t Den>
struct is_ratio<std::ratio<Num, Den>> : std::true_type {};

A family of such type traits can be passed to a concept:

template<typename T, template<typename> typename Trait>
concept satisfies = Trait<T>::value;

and then be used to constrain a template:

template<satisfies<is_ratio> R1, satisfies<is_ratio> R2>
using ratio_add = /* ... */;

After C++14 we learnt that variable templates are less to type (no need for a _v helper) and are often faster to compile. The above is_ratio type trait can be rewritten as:

template<typename T>
inline constexpr bool is_ratio = false;

template<intmax_t Num, intmax_t Den>
inline constexpr bool is_ratio<ratio<Num, Den>> = true;

However, contrary to a class template, the above variable template cannot be passed to a template at all. The syntax:

template<typename T, template<typename> bool Trait>
concept satisfies = Trait<T>;

is not a valid C++ as of today.

3 Proposal

Extend C++ template syntax with a variable template parameter kind.

4 Acknowledgements

Special thanks and recognition goes to Epam Systems for supporting my membership in the ISO C++ Committee and the production of this proposal.