Templates vs Macro. Who wins?
First let's find the smallest number using template : template <typename T> T findSmall(T x, T y) { return (( x < y) ? x : y); } Above template returns result for below cases. Only similar data types are handled by template findSmall(4, 5) // int, int findSmall(5.6, 7.5) // float, float findSmall('c', 'z') // char, char Now let's find the smallest number using macro : #define findSmall(x, y) ((x < y) ? x : y) Above macro returns result for below cases: Even the dissimilar data types are also handled by macro. findSmall(4, 5) // int, int findSmall(5.6, 7.5) // float, float findSmall('c', 'z') // char, char findSmall(4, 5.6) // int, float findSmall(5.6, 'c') // float, char This does not mean macro is superior to template. Comparison operation '<' can be overloaded in templates and dissimilar data types can be handled as well.