Templates and references

What this C++ templates and references interview question tests

This is an easy question on C++ template mechanics and parameter-passing semantics. It asks you to reason about whether a template function can achieve mutable access to a caller's argument when the template parameter is deduced as a non-reference type.

The question probes your understanding of how template argument deduction works, the distinction between the deduced type and the actual parameter, and the role of reference qualification in enabling or blocking mutations. It's the kind of foundational C++ knowledge that filters for engineers who can write correct generic code without accidentally creating copies or losing const-safety.

• Template argument deduction and type stripping
• Copy vs. reference semantics in function signatures
• Using explicit template parameters to override deduction
• Const-correctness and mutability propagation