Preprocessor directives control the compilation process from "summary" of C Programming Language by Brian W. Kernighan,Dennis Ritchie
Preprocessor directives control the compilation process. They provide a way to conditionally include or exclude code at compile time, or to define symbolic constants or macros. The preprocessor operates on the text of a program before actual compilation takes place. One common preprocessor directive is "#define", which defines a symbolic constant or macro. For example, "#define MAX_SIZE 100" defines MAX_SIZE as a constant with the value 100. Another directive is "#ifdef", which includes code if a certain symbol has been defined. Preprocessor directives are placed at the beginning of a program before any actual code. They start with a '#' character followed by the directive name and any necessary arguments. Directives such as "#include" are used to include header files in a program. By using preprocessor directives, a programmer can control the behavior of the compiler and the resulting executable code. This allows for greater flexibility and modularity in programming. However, it is important to use directives judiciously to avoid making the code overly complex or difficult to maintain.- Preprocessor directives play a crucial role in controlling the compilation process in C programming. They allow for conditional compilation, defining constants and macros, and including header files. By understanding and using preprocessor directives effectively, a programmer can optimize the compilation process and improve the overall quality of the code.
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