// template2.cpp			By: Aiman Hanna -  ©1993-2002 Aiman Hanna

// This program illustrates template functions. The "template" keyword always 
// begins the definition of a template function. If there is forward declaration 
// for the function, the "template" keyword must also be there. Following the  
// "template" keyword, there is a list of what is called a "formal type 
// parameters". The list of formal type parameters is surrounded by the "<" and 
// ">" characters. A comma separates the different formal types. So, examples of 
// the first line of a template function may look like: 
//	template <class Type>
// or 
//	template <class T, class U>
// Notice that the "class" keyword must precede each type. The following for 
// example is illegal:
//	template <class T, U>
//
// Each of the types "int", "double", "char", as well as arrays and linked lists 
// are valid actual parameter types that can substitute the formal parameters. 
//
// The name of the formal type parameters can occur only once within the formal 
// list. The following, for example, is illegal:
//	template <class T, class U, class T>
// However, the same name can legally be used within the formal list of other 
// template functions. 
//
// The program shows an example of a template function that replaces all the 
// three "min()" overloaded functions in template1.cpp. 
//
//	Key Points: 	1) template functions. 


#include <iostream.h>

// template functions that has one formal type, called "Type". 
// (Notice that this is just a name that can be anything different than "Type"). 
// The function expects two parameters of type "Type". The function finds and 
// returns the smaller value of the two passed values. Hence, the return type 
// of the template function is also "Type" as well. 

template <class Type>
Type  min( Type a, Type b )
{
 return a < b ? a : b;		// same as:  if ( a < b ) return a; else return b;
}



int main( )
{
 int x = 10, y = 5;
 double w = 13.2, z = 21.9;
 char ch1 = 'f', ch2 = 'k';

 cout << " The minimum value of the two integers x and y is: " << min( x, y ) 
 							             << endl << endl;
 cout << " The minimum value of the two doubles w and z is: " << min( w, z ) 
 							             << endl << endl;
 cout << " The minimum value of the two characters ch1 and ch2 is: " 
							<< min( ch1, ch2) << endl << endl;

return 0;
}


// The output of the program 
/*
 The minimum value of the two integers x and y is: 5

 The minimum value of the two doubles w and z is: 13.2

 The minimum value of the two characters ch1 and ch2 is: f
*/