Thread: template

in template prototype

whats the diffirence b/w class and typename

?

Code:

1  // Fig. 6.26: maximum.h
 2  // Definition of function template maximum.
 3
 4  template < class T >  // or template< typename T >         
 5  T maximum( T value1, T value2, T value3 )                  
 6  {                                                          
 7     T maximumValue = value1; // assume value1 is maximum    
 8                                                             
 9     // determine whether value2 is greater than maximumValue
10     if ( value2 > maximumValue )                            
11        maximumValue = value2;                               
12                                                             
13     // determine whether value3 is greater than maximumValue
14     if ( value3 > maximumValue )                            
15        maximumValue = value3;                               
16                                                             
17     return maximumValue;                                    
18  } // end function template maximum

here why is template <class T> ???? whats the purpose of it ?