C pre-processor - TutorialAndExample

The C processor is a macro processor which is used to compile the source code of the program (step by step) . It is not a part of the compiler. All pre-processor commands begin with hash symbol (#).

The C pre-processor provides various facilities that are:

inclusion of header
Macro expansion
Conditional compilation
Line control

Preprocessor	Syntax/Description
Macro	Macro is used to define the constant value and data types. Syntax: #define
Header file inclusion	The source code of the file “file_name” is included in the main program at the specified place. Syntax: #include <file_name>
Conditional compilation	It is used to set of commands in source program. Syntax: #ifdef, #endif, #if, #else, #ifndef
Other directives	#undef is used to defined a macro variable and #Pragma is used to call a function before and after main function. Syntax: #undef, #pragma

In C language, there are various stages of execution process. The given following diagram will help you:

There are following important pre-processor directories in C language.

Directive	Description
#define	Substitutes a pre-processor macro.
#include	It is used to inserts a particular header from another file.
#undef	It is used to undefine a preprocessor macro.
#ifdef	It is used to return true if this macro is defined.
#ifdef	It is used to return if this macro is defined.
#if	It is used to check compile time condition.
#else	The alternative for #if.
#elif	#if and #else in one statement.
#endif	It is used to end pre-processor conditional.
#error	It is used to print error message on stderr.
#pragma	Issues special command to the compiler, using a standardized method.

Example: 1


#include<stdio.h>
#include”header.h”;

#include<stdio.h>

#include”header.h”;

Example 2


#ifndef MESSAGE
            #define MESSAGE “You Wish”
#endif

#ifndef MESSAGE

#define MESSAGE “You Wish”

#endif

C Macros

A macro is a name which stands for a fragment of code. Before using macro we must define it with ‘#define’ directive. It is the name of macro.

There are two types of macros.

Object-like macros
Function-like macros

Object Like Macros:

The object-like macro is an identifier that is replaced by value. It is widely used to represent numeric constants.

Example: Pi =3.147

Function like Macros:

Function like macros are used as function call. Let us consider an example.


#define Max(a,b)((a)>(b)?(a):(b))

#define Max(a,b)((a)>(b)?(a):(b))

Here MAX is the macro name.

There are some predefine macros :

Predefined Macros	Description
_DATE_	It is defined as current date with “MMM DD YYY” format.
_TIME_	It is defined as current time with “HH:MM:SS” format.
_FILE_	It contains the current filename as a string literal.
_STDC_	It is defined as 1 when compiler compiles with the ANSI standard.
__STDC_VERSION__	It is defined as standard’s version
_GNUC_	It is defined if and only if this is GNU C. etc

Example of Macros


#include <stdio.h>
main(){
printf("File :%s\n",__FILE__);
printf("Date :%s\n",__DATE__);
printf("Time :%s\n",__TIME__);
printf("Line :%d\n",__LINE__);
printf("STDC :%d\n",__STDC__);
}

#include <stdio.h>

main(){

printf("File :%s\n",__FILE__);

printf("Date :%s\n",__DATE__);

printf("Time :%s\n",__TIME__);

printf("Line :%d\n",__LINE__);

printf("STDC :%d\n",__STDC__);

}

C #define and #include.

C #defined:

It defines constant value. It can be any of the basic data types.

Syntax:


#define token value

#define token value

Example:1


#include <stdio.h>
#define PI 3.14 
main() { 
   printf("%f",PI); 
}

#include <stdio.h>

#define PI 3.14

main() {

printf("%f",PI);

}

Output

3.140000

Example:2


#include <stdio.h>
#define number 3.14
#define letter 'A'
#define letter_sequence "C_Tutorial"
#define backslash_char '\?'
void main(){
   printf("value of number : %f \n", number );
   printf("value of letter : %c \n", letter );
   printf("value of letter_sequence : %s \n", letter_sequence);
   printf("value of backslash_char  : %c \n", backslash_char);
 }

#include <stdio.h>

#define number 3.14

#define letter 'A'

#define letter_sequence "C_Tutorial"

#define backslash_char '\?'

void main(){

printf("value of number : %f \n", number );

printf("value of letter : %c \n", letter );

printf("value of letter_sequence : %s \n", letter_sequence);

printf("value of backslash_char : %c \n", backslash_char);

}

Output

value of number : 3.140000

value of letter : A

value of letter_sequence : C_Tutorial

value of backslash_char : ?

#include:

It is used to paste code of given file into current file. We can use system-defined and used-defined header files.

There are two types of #include directive.

#include< filename>
#include ”filename”

Example


#include<stdio.h>
 int main(){   
   printf("Hello  World ");     
   return 0; 
 }

#include<stdio.h>

int main(){

printf("Hello World ");

return 0;

}

C #undef:

It is used to check undefined the constant or macro. It is defined by #define.

Syntax:


#undef token

#undef token

Example1:


#include <stdio.h>
#define PI 3.14 
#undef PI 
main() { 
   printf("%f",PI); 
}

#include <stdio.h>

#define PI 3.14

#undef PI

main() {

printf("%f",PI);

}

Output

Compile time Error: PI undeclared

Example2:


#include <stdio.h>
#define number 15  // variable define
int squ=number*number; 
#undef number 
int main() { 
   printf("%d",squ); 
   return 0;
}

#include <stdio.h>

#define number 15 // variable define

int squ=number*number;

#undef number

int main() {

printf("%d",squ);

return 0;

}

#ifdef, #else and #endif

The ‘#ifdef’ directive is used to check whether macro is defined or not. If it is defined then, ‘if’ clause statements are included in source code.

Otherwise “else” clause statements are included in source file for compilation and execution.

Example : #ifdef


#include<stdio.h>
#define AGE 18
void main(){
#ifdef AGE
{
printf("You are Eligible for voting\n");
}
#else
{
printf("Not eligible\n");
}
#endif
}

#include<stdio.h>

#define AGE 18

void main(){

#ifdef AGE

{

printf("You are Eligible for voting\n");

}

#else

{

printf("Not eligible\n");

}

#endif

}

Output

You are Eligible for voting

C #Pragma:

The C #Pragma is used to call a function before and after main function. It also provides additional information to the compiler.

There are several types of pragmas in GCC compiler.

AArch64 Pragmas
ARM Pragmas
M32C Pragmas
MeP Pragmas
RS/6000 and PowerPC Praglmas
S/390 Pragmas:
Darwin Pragmas:
Solaris Pragmas: etc.

Syntax:


#pragma token

#pragma token

Example:


#include <stdio.h>
void function1( );
void function2( );
#pragma startup fun1
#pragma exit fun2
int main(){
   printf ( "\n Now we are in main function" ) ;
   return 0;
}
void fun1(){
   printf("\nFun1 is called before main function call");
}
void fun2(){
   printf ( "\nFun2 is called just before end of  main function" ) ;
}

#include <stdio.h>

void function1( );

void function2( );

#pragma startup fun1

#pragma exit fun2

int main(){

printf ( "\n Now we are in main function" ) ;

return 0;

}

void fun1(){

printf("\nFun1 is called before main function call");

}

void fun2(){

printf ( "\nFun2 is called just before end of main function" ) ;

}

Output

Now we are in main function

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