getData function example in C++

//getData function ~ validates that the input is of the correct data type
template<class T>
void getData(T data, string prompt)
     {
          T input;
          for(;;)
          {
               cout << prompt; cin >> input;
               if(cin.good())
               break;
               cout << "Error:  bad input.  Try again.\n";
               cin.clear();
               cin.ignore(10);
          }
          data = input;
      }