C preprocessors are the first part of the translation during the processing compilation of a c program. It is called a macro processor because it allows yo u to define macros, which are brief abbreviations for longer constructs. C file as input and creates expanded source code pr. A macro is a name given to a block of c statements as a preprocessor directive.
These directives allow additional actions to be taken on the c source code before it is compiled into object code. Below is the list of preprocessor directives that c programming language. File inclusive directives c preprocessor directives c. The c preprocessor is a macro processor that is used automatically by the c compiler to transform your program before actual compilation. It is an identifier used in program which will be replaced by value. The program has a preprocessor that replaces main with macron, a, i, m. It is called a macro processor because it allows you to define macros, which are brief abbreviations for longer constructs. The c preprocessor is not a part of the compiler, but is a separate step in the compilation proc. In this article, we will explore preprocessor directives in c programming. Learn about preprocessor in c, directives in c, macros in c, macro substitution directives, file inclusion directives, compiler control. Pre processor processes our program before going to the compiler. C programming preprocessor directives trytoprogram. These lines are not program statements but directives for the preprocessor.
Let us now learn about each of these directives in details. This page li sts the preprocessor direct ives, or comm ands to the preproc essor. Below is the list of preprocessor directives that c programming language offers. It ispart of the c normal, a bit like the language, the compiler and also the normal library. It is called a macro processor because it allows you to define macros, which are brief abbreviations for longer constructs the c preprocessor provides four separate facilities that you can use as you see fit. File inclusive directives file inclusive directories are used to include user define header file inside c program. C programming preprocessor in c directives in c macros file.
Typically, such statements are placed at the top of a program hence the name header file for files thus included. After the macro is defined, the compiler can substitute the token string for each occurrence of the identifier in the source file. This is the value to be substituted for identifier. The preprocessor is a utility program, which processes special instructions that can be or are written in a ccpp program. Before a c program is compiled in a compiler, source code is processed by a program called preprocessor. Whenever a cpp program is compiled then the following steps are taken. Preprocessors are a way of making text processing with your c program before they are actually compiled. This page lists the preprocessor directives, or commands to the preprocessor, that are available. Many of write c program without knowing what actually preprocessor is. B macros increase program speed when compared to functions.
It instructs the c compiler to do some specific required preprocessing before the compilation process when we compile a c program, c preprocessor processes the statements which are associated with it and expand them to make the code for further compilation. The c preprocessor, often known as cpp, is a macro processor that is used automatically by the c compiler to transform the program before compilation. C mcq questions and answers on preprocessor directives 1. A macro is a fragment of code that is given a name. But there is something different in parameterized macro in comparison with functions in c. Tells the preprocessor to treat the contents of a specified file as if they appear in the source program at the point where the directive appears. The preprocessor will process directives that are inserted into the c source code. These lines are not program state ments but d irectiv es for the pr ep rocessor. Before the actual compilation of every c program it is. The c preproces sor i s a m acro processor that is used automatically b y t he c compiler to transfo rm your p rogram before actual compila tion proprocessor dir ecives are executed before compilation. Covers topics like introduction to preprocessor directives, macro expansion, file inclusion, summary of preprocessor directives etc.
The line macron, a, i, m is again replaced by main. File inclusive directory checks included header file inside same directory if path is not mentioned. Before the program is compiled, the source code goes through one process called preprocessor. Types of preprocessor directives part1 c programming. During preprocessing, the macro myfile gets replaced with, then program. C preprocessor directives tutorial to learn c preprocessor directives in simple, easy and step by step way with syntax, examples and notes.
The pr eprocessor examines the code before actual compi lati on of code begins and res olves all these directives before any code is actually generated by regular statements. In c programming, you can instruct preprocessor whether to include a block of code or not. The c preprocessor modifies a source code file before handing it over to the. Here, when we use c in our program, it is replaced with 299792458. Being a preprocessor, the block of code is communicated to the compiler before entering into the actual coding main function. The preprocessor determines if the provided macro exists before including the subsequent code in the compilation process. It must be the first nonblank character, and for readability, a preprocessor directi ve should begin in the first column.
The preprocessor simply replaces the name of macro with replacement text from the place where the macro is defined in the source code. It is preprocessor directive used for text substitution. Preprocessor programs provide preprocessors directives which tell the compiler to preprocess the source code before compiling. C language preprocessor directives macro expansion, file. Preprocessor directives change the text of the source code and the result is a new source code without these directives. The following section lists down all the impo rtant preprocessor directives.
Preprocessor directives in c language, macro substitution. This m acro is used to include a header file into the source file. C preprocessor in short cpp is the macro preprocessor a separate program which is invoked by the c compiler before processing any other element in the program i. In many c implementations, it is a separate program invoked by the compiler as the first part of translation. Secondly, function call takes some time but macro is defined before the actual program. This expanded source code is then passed to the compiler for compilation.
A conditional is a directive that instructs the preprocessor to select whether or not to include a chunk of code in the final token stream passed to the compiler. They are invoked by the compiler to process some programs before compilation. The following section lists down all the important preprocessor directives. The c preprocessor is a macro preprocess or allows you to d efine mac ros that transfor ms your pro gram before it is compiled. C program to find sum of two numbers using macro codeforwin. Preprocessor in c preprocessor is a program which will executed automatically before passing the source program to compiler. C programmingpreprocessor directives and macros wikibooks. C preprocessor test 1 for beginners and professionals with tests on array, string, control statement, math, file, dynamic memory, linked list, structure, union etc. Preprocessor directives c programming developer insider. Preprocessor conditionals can test arithmetic expressions, or whether a name is defined as a macro, or both simultaneously using the special defined operator a conditional in the c preprocessor. A c preprocessor is a statement substitution text substitution in c programming language. The preprocessor examines the code before actual compilation of code begins and resolves all these directives before any code is actually generated by regular statements. It must be the first nonblank character, and for readability, a preprocessor directive should begin in the first column. An external file containing functions or macro definitions can be included as a part of program so that we need not rewrite those functions or macro definitions.
1457 1104 825 121 381 486 1322 647 1127 842 432 1047 44 1160 457 968 935 580 456 987 1271 1161 1439 1507 1240 1623 1465 485 309 232 21 1186 293 900 1558 629 1593 1533 362 425 1086 521 94 355 691 249