How do I create a header-only library?

You can use the inline keyword:

// header.hpp (included into multiple translation units)

void foo_bad() {} // multiple definitions, one in every translation unit :(

inline void foo_good() {} // ok :)

inline allows the linker to simply pick one definition and discard the rest.

(As such, if those definitions don’t actually match, you get a good dose of undefined behavior…!)


As an aside, member functions defined within a class-type, are implicitly marked inline:

struct myclass
{
    void i_am_inline_implicitly()
    {
        // because my definition is here
    }

    void but_i_am_not();
    void neither_am_i();
};

inline void myclass::but_i_am_not()
{
    // but that doesn't mean my definition cannot be explicitly inline
}

void myclass::neither_am_i()
{
    // but in this case, no inline for me :(
}

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