[rian]

reinterpret_cast<>?! that's implementation-defined. not to mention type-aliasing which is undefined behavior. what you want is:

    template<typename T>
    typename std::enable_if<std::is_trivial<T>::value, T>::type
    getValue(std::array<char, sizeof(T)> bytes) {
        T toret;
        std::memcpy(&toret, bytes.data(), sizeof(toret));
        return toret;
    }

there is no-performance hit compared to your function. this is a type-safe and well-defined version of the function above.

btw, was your usage of trivial a pun? if so, that's amazing. we need more type traits puns.