When would I use std::integral_constant over constexpr?

Template integral_constant defines a type, keyword constexpr defines a constant. For example std::true_type is std::integral_constant<bool, true>.

One of the usage examples is tag-dispatching.

template<typename T>
void use_impl(const T&, std::false_type)
{
}

template<typename T>
void use_impl(const T&, std::true_type)
{
}

template<typename T>
void use(const T& v)
{
   use_impl(v, typename std::is_integral<T>::type());
}

Live example


It can be used with the ternary operator eg

void gotoN_impl(std::integral_constant<int,0>::type)
{
    std::cout << "GoTo 0" << '\n';
}

void gotoN_impl(std::integral_constant<int,1>::type)
{
    std::cout << "GoTo 1" << '\n';
}

void gotoN_impl(std::integral_constant<int,2>::type)
{
    std::cout << "GoTo 2" << '\n';
}

void gotoN_impl(std::integral_constant<int,3>::type)
{
    std::cout << "GoTo 3" << '\n';
} 

template<int N>
void gotoN()
{
    gotoN_impl(typename std::integral_constant<int, N>::type());
}


int main()
{
    gotoN<0>();
    gotoN<1>();
    gotoN<2>();
    gotoN<3>();

    constexpr auto x = 99;

    gotoN<x<4?x:3>(); // with a ternary operator
}