Call template function for the value of a pointer out of a template function, in C++ -

i trying call template function pointer given template parameter in calling function. code is:

template <> struct serialize_helper<std::string> {      // not important code...     }  };  template <class t> inline void serializer(const t& obj, streamtype::iterator& res) {      if(std::is_pointer<t>::value)     {         //this doesn' work         serialize_helper<*t>::apply(*obj,res);     }     else         serialize_helper<t>::apply(obj,res);  } 

if call:

std::string test("test"); serializer(test, res); 

everything works fine. want able call serializer pointer obj:

std::string test* = new std::string("test"); serializer(test, res); 

dereferencing pointer before calling serializer function not possible option, please not propose that. inside serializer function possible.

shorter description: want call serializer std::string* , have same thing has if i'd called std::string points to.

the whole body of template function needs compile types it's instantiated with, regardless of whether or not branch ever taken. around issue, can define separate functions when t pointer , when it's not.

using sfinae:

template <class t, std::enable_if_t<std::is_pointer<t>::value>* = nullptr> inline void serializer(const t& obj, streamtype::iterator& res) {     serialize_helper<std::remove_pointer_t<t>>::apply(*obj,res); }  template <class t, std::enable_if_t<!std::is_pointer<t>::value>* = nullptr> inline void serializer(const t& obj, streamtype::iterator& res) {     serialize_helper<t>::apply(obj,res); } 

using tagged-dispatch:

template <class t> inline void serializer(const t& obj, streamtype::iterator& res, std::true_type) {     serialize_helper<std::remove_pointer_t<t>>::apply(*obj,res); }  template <class t> inline void serializer(const t& obj, streamtype::iterator& res, std::false_type) {     serialize_helper<t>::apply(obj,res); }  template <class t> inline void serializer(const t& obj, streamtype::iterator& res) {     serializer(obj, res, std::is_pointer<t>()); }