Type-generic interface
A type-generic interface is a programming interface that selects or adapts operations according to the types of its arguments or associated values.
Modern C, Third Edition
Type-generic programming is a programming technique that selects or adapts operations according to the types of values involved.
- How it is used
- Presents one callable interface for operations whose selected function or result type depends on argument types.
- How deep it goes
- Explains macro and _Generic selection with examples, including fixed-type limits and qualification safety; does not detail atomic-interface implementations.
- Examples
- Uses cos and fabs function families, a two-argument minimum macro, and const-qualified strstr calls.
- What you can do after
- Build it from scratch with a _Generic macro that selects functions for a specified set of argument types.
Read how Modern C, Third Edition explains type-generic interface →
Modern C
Type-generic programming is a technique for providing one interface that selects or adapts behavior according to the types of its inputs.
- How it is used
- Deploys macros with _Generic to present one type-safe interface over several type-specific functions or values.
- How deep it goes
- Explains _Generic selection and multi-argument dispatch, then demonstrates practical macro utilities without developing every language corner case.
- Examples
- Uses fabs dispatch, floating-point minimum, maximum-value selection, and tracing formats and conversions as concrete implementations.
- What you can do after
- Builds type-generic C11 macro interfaces that dispatch to typed functions or expressions while avoiding unnecessary macro evaluation hazards.
Related concepts
- _Genericimplemented by · _Generic is a C11 primary expression that selects one expression from type-associated alternatives according to the type of a controlling expression.
- atomic typecontrasts with · An atomic type is a type whose supported accesses and operations are indivisible with respect to concurrent execution and provide defined synchronization semantics.
- tgmath.huses · tgmath.h is the C standard header providing type-generic macros that select mathematical functions according to argument types.
- type-generic macrohas part · A type-generic macro is a macro-based interface whose expansion selects or adapts operations according to the types of its arguments or associated objects.
- function-like macroimplements · A function-like macro is a macro invoked with function-like syntax that accepts token input and expands or transforms it into generated source.
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