Is it possible to define a template method as virtual?

In C++, template methods (template methods) by themselves cannot be virtual. This is because virtual functions require runtime definition through a virtual function table (vtable), whereas templates are a compile-time mechanism that is instantiated during compilation.

If you need behavior similar to virtual for template methods, design patterns are usually used, for example, the template method pattern with virtual functions in the base class, and templates are applied to classes, not to methods.

Example:

class Base {
public:
    virtual void step1() = 0;
    virtual void step2() = 0;

    void templateMethod() {
        step1();
        step2();
    }
};

class Derived : public Base {
public:
    void step1() override { /* implementation */ }
    void step2() override { /* implementation */ }
};

Here, templateMethod is not a template, but it defines a general algorithm, and the steps are implemented virtually. Template methods as such cannot be virtual.