Way to call a static method of a class template without specifying an instantiation?

Question

Is there any way to define a static method in a class template which can be then be called without specifying the instantiation?

I think this could be useful in cases where you have some auxiliary static function, which logically belongs in a class (which happens to be a template one), but doesn't depend on the template parameter.

I don't mind either:

1. Having the same static method (including address and all) for all instantiations, or
2. Having a separate static method for each instantiation, but be able to call the static method without specifying an instantiation where I call the method (some default would be called).

e.g.

template<typename T> class C {
public:
    static int func() { return 0; }
};

int main()
{
    // This works.
    return C<int>::func();   

    // These don't work.
    // return C<>::func();   
    // return C::func();   
}

Answer 1

The simplest solution is probably to have the static function belong in a base class, and then the template derives from the base:

struct CBase {
    static int func() { return 0; }
};

template<typename T> class C : public CBase {
public:
};

int main()
{
    // This works.
    return C<int>::func();

    // This will work too:
    return CBase::func();
}

Answer 2

You can use inheritance which will also remove the duplication of any non static functions ( that also don't care about the template type ) in your binary, i.e:

class A {
public:
    static int func() { return 0; }
};

template<typename T> 
class B : A {

};