Table of Contents
In this tutorial, you’ll learn about Preprocessors in C. You will learn how to define and use C Preprocessor with the help of examples.
- The preprocessor includes the instructions for the compiler, these instructions are executed before the source code is compiled.
- Preprocessor directives begin with a hash sign(#).
- No semicolon (;) is expected at the end of a preprocessor directive.
C provides the following preprocessor directives:
The #define Preprocessor Directive as Constant
The #define preprocessor directive is used to define constant values in the program.
Syntax of #define preprocessor directive
#define macro_name value
The #define preprocessor directive define the macro-name and value, this value is replaced with each time the macro-name appears in the program .
Examples of #define preprocessor directive
EXAMPLE 1
#include<stdio.h>
#define PI 3.14
void main()
{
int r;
float area;
printf("Enter radius : ");
scanf("%d",&r);
area = PI * r * r;
printf("\nArea of circle is : %f",area);
}
OUTPUT
Enter radius : 5 Area of circle is : 78.5
In the above example PI is macro-name.
EXAMPLE 2
#include<stdio.h>
#define SIZE 5
void main()
{
int arr[SIZE];
for(int i=0;i<SIZE;i++)
{
printf("Enter any number : ");
scanf("%d",&arr[i]);
}
for(i=0;i<SIZE;i++)
printf("%d, ",arr[i]);
}
Output :
Enter any number : 78 Enter any number : 45 Enter any number : 12 Enter any number : 89 Enter any number : 56 78, 45, 12, 89, 56,
In the above example SIZE is macro-name.
The #define Preprocessor Directive as Function
The #define preprocessor directive can be used as inline function which is replaced at compile time. The definition of macro accepts an argument and that argument is replaced by the actual argument found in program.
Example of #define preprocessor as function
EXAMPLE
#include<stdio.h>
#define SQUARE(x) x*x
void main()
{
int num;
printf("Enter any number : ");
scanf("%d",&num);
printf("\nThe square is : %d",SQUARE(num));
}
Output :
Enter any number : 5
The square is : 25
Difference between Macros and functions
| Macros | Functions |
| Macro calls are replaced with macro expression. | In function call, the control is passed to a function definition along with arguments,and definition is processed and value may be returned to call. |
| Macros run programs faster but increase the program size. | Functions run programs slower but decrease the program size and compact. |
| It is better to use Macros, when definition is very small in size. | It is better to use Functions, when definition is bigger in size. |
The #include Preprocessor Directive
The #include preprocessor directive is used to include another source file in our source code. This is commonly used to include header files in our program.
Syntax of #include preprocessor directive
#include "filename.h"
or
#include <filename.h>
The source file to be added must be enclosed within double quotes (” “) or angle brackets (< >) . If the file is enclosed in double quotes the search will be done in current directory. If the file is enclosed in angle brackets the search will be done in standard directories (include directory) where the libraries are stored.
The #if-#else-#endif Preprocessor Directive
The #if preprocessor directive takes condition in parenthesis, if condition is true, then the statements given between #if and #else will get execute. If condition is false, then statements given between #else and #endif will get execute.
Syntax of #if-#else-#endif Preprocessor Directive
#if(condition)
- - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -
#else
- - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -
#endif
Example of #if-#else-#endif Preprocessor Directive
EXAMPLE
#include<stdio.h>
#define MAX 45
void main()
{
#if MAX > 40
printf("Yes, MAX is greater then 40.");
#else
printf("No, MAX is not greater then 40.");
#endif
}Output :
Yes, MAX is Greater then 40.
The #elif Preprocessor Directive
The #elif preprocessor directive is similar to if-else ladder statement. It is used for checking multiple conditions, if the first condition will not satisfy, compiler will jump to #else block and check other condition is true or not and so on.
Syntax of #if-#elif-#else-#endif Preprocessor Directive
#if(condition)
- - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -
#elif(condition)
- - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -
#elif(condition)
- - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -
#else
- - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -
#endif
Example of #if-#elif-#else-#endif Preprocessor Directive
EXAMPLE
#include<stdio.h>
#define MKS 65
void main()
{
#if MKS>=78
printf("\nGrade A");
#elif MKS>=50
printf("\nGrade B");
#elif MKS>=25
printf("\nGrade C");
#else
printf("\nGrade D");
#endif
}Output :
Grade B
The #ifdef Preprocessor Directive
The #ifdef preprocessor directive is used to check whether the macro-name is previously defined or not, if defined then the statements given between #ifdef and #else will get execute.
Syntax of #ifdef preprocessor directive
#ifdef macro-name
- - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -
#else
- - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -
#endif
Example of #ifdef preprocessor directive
EXAMPLE
#include<stdio.h>
#define MKS 65
void main()
{
#ifdef MONTH
printf("\nMONTH is defined.");
#else
printf("\nMONTH is not defined.");
#endif
}Output :
MONTH is not defined.
The #ifndef Preprocessor Directive
The #ifndef preprocessor directive is used to check whether the macro-name is previously defined or not, if not defined then the statements given between #ifndef and #else will get execute.
Syntax of #ifndef preprocessor directive
#ifndef macro-name
- - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -
#else
- - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -
#endif
Example of #ifndef preprocessor directive
EXAMPLE
#include<stdio.h>
#define MKS 65
void main()
{
#ifndef MAX
printf("\nMAX is not defined.");
#else
printf("\nMAX is defined.");
#endif
}Output :
MAX is not defined.
Note: The #ifdef and #ifndef can not use the #elif preprocessor directive.
The #line Preprocessor Directive
The #line preprocessor directive is used to overwrite the default value of pre-defined macro-names __LINE__ and __FILE__. By defalut __LINE__ displays the current line number and __FILE__ displays the current filename.
Example of #line preprocessor directive
EXAMPLE 1
#include<stdio.h>
void main()
{
printf("\nLine number %d",__LINE__);
printf("\nFile name %s",__FILE__);
}Output :
Line number : 4
File name : LineDemo.c
Note : We have saved the above code in LineDemo.c file.
EXAMPLE 2
#include<stdio.h>
#line 25 Demo.c
void main()
{
printf("\nLine number %d",__LINE__);
printf("\nFile name %s",__FILE__);
}Output :
Line number : 25
File name : Demo.c
The above code is still in LineDemo.c file but we have overwritten the line number and the file name using #line directive.
The #error Preprocessor Directive
The #error preprocessor directive is used to force the compile to stop compiling the source code. In other words we can manually force the compiler to stop compiling and give fatal error.
Example of #error preprocessor directive
EXAMPLE 1
#include<stdio.h>
void main()
{
#ifndef MAX
printf("\nMAX is not defined."); //Statement 1
#else
printf("\nMAX is defined."); //Statement 2
#endif
printf("\nEnd of program."); //Statement 3
}Output :
MAX is not defined.
End of program.
EXAMPLE 2
#include<stdio.h>
void main()
{
#ifndef MAX
#error MAX is not defined. //Statement 1
#else
printf("\nMAX is defined."); //Statement 2
#endif
printf("\nEnd of program."); //Statement 3
}
The only difference between example 1 and 2 is the statement 1. In example 1, statement 1 will display message and continue to compile the rest of the code. In example 2, statement 1 will force the compiler to give fatal error and stop compiling the rest of the code.
