# Can a function accept an unspecified data format as its argument, instead of a specific one?

**URL:** <https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/can-a-function-accept-an-unspecified-data-format-as-its-argument-instead-of-a-specific-one/41868>\
**Category:** C++\
**Tags:** unreal-engine\
**Created:** [September 16, 2015, 2:16am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/can-a-function-accept-an-unspecified-data-format-as-its-argument-instead-of-a-specific-one/41868 "2015-09-16T02:16:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 3

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**Author:** ![BrUnO\_XaVIeR](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/bruno_xavier/32/1110230_2.png) [@BrUnO\_XaVIeR](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/BrUnO_XaVIeR)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 2:42am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/can-a-function-accept-an-unspecified-data-format-as-its-argument-instead-of-a-specific-one/41868/3 "2015-09-16T02:42:28Z")

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You want to create template functions: template\<T\> Void Blah(…) { }  
They are kinda complicated to build and debug messages are weird so most ppl don’t like them, going with overloading instead.  
Here’s some tips from the Wiki about templates in gameplay code…

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