A template is a form, mold, or pattern used as a guide to making
something. Here are some examples:
A ruler is a template when used to draw a straight line.
A document in which the standard opening and closing parts are already
filled in is a template that you can copy and then fill in the variable
parts.
An overlay that you put on your computer keyboard telling you special key
combinations for a particular application is a template for selecting the
right keys to press.
Flowcharting templates (not used much now) help programmers draw
flowcharts or logic sequences in preparation for writing the code.
In programming, a template is a generic class or other unit of source
code that can be used as the basis for unique units of code. In C++, an
object-oriented computing language, there are Standard Template Libraries
from which programmers can choose individual template classes to modify,
the Microsoft Foundation Class Library (MFCL) is an example,