*; training requirement –Training: application programmers are not usually trained to produce generic solutions
The following mainly apply to their use in two-dimensional tables, not the one-dimensional tables discussed earlier.
*; [[Computational overhead|overhead]] –: some increase because of extra level of [[indirection (programming)|indirection]] caused by virtual instructions having to be 'interpreted' (this however can usually be more than offset by a well designed generic interpreter taking full advantage of efficient direct translate, search and conditional testing techniques that may not otherwise have been utilized)
* Complex [[expression (programming)|expression]]s cannot always be used ''directly'' in data table entries for comparison purposes
; Complexity: Complex [[expression (theseprogramming)|expression]]s cannot always be used ''directly'' in data table entries for comparison purposes. These intermediate values' can however be calculated beforehand instead within a subroutine and their values referred to in the conditional table entries. Alternatively, a subroutine can perform the complete complex conditional test (as an unconditional 'action') and, by setting a [[truth bit |truth flag]] as its result, it can then be tested in the next table entry. See [[Structured program theorem]])
