[temp.fct.general]

# 13 Templates [[temp]](./#temp)

## 13.7 Template declarations [[temp.decls]](temp.decls#temp.fct.general)

### 13.7.7 Function templates [[temp.fct]](temp.fct#general)

#### 13.7.7.1 General [temp.fct.general]

[1](#1)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/templates.tex#L4052)

A function template defines an unbounded set of related functions[.](#1.sentence-1)

[*Example [1](#example-1)*:

A family of sort functions can be declared like this:template<class T> class Array { };template<class T> void sort(Array<T>&);

— *end example*]

[2](#2)

[#](http://github.com/Eelis/draft/tree/9adde4bc1c62ec234483e63ea3b70a59724c745a/source/templates.tex#L4062)

[*Note [1](#note-1)*:

A function template can have the same name as other function templates
and non-template functions ([[dcl.fct]](dcl.fct "9.3.4.6 Functions")) in the same scope[.](#2.sentence-1)

— *end note*]

A non-template function is not
related to a function template
(i.e., it is never considered to be a specialization),
even if it has the same name and type
as a potentially generated function template specialization[.](#2.sentence-2)[115](#footnote-115 "That is, declarations of non-template functions do not merely guide overload resolution of function template specializations with the same name. If such a non-template function is odr-used ([term.odr.use]) in a program, it must be defined; it will not be implicitly instantiated using the function template definition.")

[115)](#footnote-115)[115)](#footnoteref-115)

That is,
declarations of non-template functions do not merely guide
overload resolution of
function template specializations
with the same name[.](#footnote-115.sentence-1)

If such a non-template function is odr-used ([[basic.def.odr]](basic.def.odr#term.odr.use "6.3 One-definition rule")) in a program, it must be defined;
it will not be implicitly instantiated using the function template definition[.](#footnote-115.sentence-2)