Even though #define, #include, #ifdef, #ifndef, #endif.. are very common but when i try a hackerrank problem, the term "Preprocessor directives" sound unfamiliar to me. So i just summarize about it here.
Definition: Preprocessor directives are lines included in the code of programs preceded by a hash sign (#). These lines are not program statements but directives for the preprocessor. 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
Some types of preprocessor directives that I frequently use :
Macro Definition
#define foreach(v,i) for(int i = 0; i< v.size();i++)
#define toStr(S) #S // to string
#define getmax(a,b) ((a) > (b)) ? (a): (b)
#define FUNCTION(name, operator) int name(int a, int b){if(a operator b)return a;else return b;}
FUNCTION(maximum, >)
FUNCTION(minimum, <)
void testFunc() {
vector<int> iV = { 3,5,7,8,3,5,4 };
foreach(iV, k) {
cout << " " << iV[k];
}
cout << endl;
int a = 9;
int b = 52;
int min_val = minimum(a, b);
int max_val = getmax(a, b);
cout << "Debug info : " << endl;
cout << " File : " << __FILE__ << endl;//predefined macro for debug
cout<<" Line : " << __LINE__ << endl;
cout << endl;
cout << toStr(Min Value = ) << min_val << endl;
cout << toStr(Max Value = ) << max_val << endl;
}
File Inclusion : #include "header.h"
Conditional Compilation
#define DEBUG
void test_define() {
#ifdef DEBUG
cout << "Debug mode enabled." << std::endl;
#else
cout << " not define DEBUG " << endl;
#endif
#ifndef RELEASE
cout << "Not in release mode." << std::endl;
#endif
}
There are others directives like :
#undef
#pragma startup
#pragma exit
...
but i never use except #pragma once to prevent multiple inclusions of the file
Top comments (3)
Macro parameters should always be in parentheses:
to prevent unintended expansions due to operator precedence.
There's a standard way to do debugging macros and it's:
See
assert()for details.Your definition of
foreachshould be:but range-based for loops really eliminate the need for any such macro now.
Modern compilers really don't need
#pragma onceany more.You completely ignore some of the more interesting things about the preprocessor.
thank you very much for your advice
If you develop a library / framework, it is even better to use
#ifndef ... #define ... #endif .... It guarantees that the same header in different location will be never included twice. In addition, developers can exclude obsolete / deprecated headers.