What do you mean by preprocessor?

In computer science, a preprocessor (or precompiler) is a program that processes its input data to produce output that is used as input to another program. The output is said to be a preprocessed form of the input data, which is often used by some subsequent programs like compilers.

What is predefined macro?

Predefined macros are those that the compiler defines (in contrast to those user defines in the source file). Those macros must not be re-defined or undefined by user.

What are predefined macros in C?

ANSI C defines many predefined macros that can be used in c program….C Predefined Macros.

No. Macro Description
1 _DATE_ represents current date in “MMM DD YYYY” format.
2 _TIME_ represents current time in “HH:MM:SS” format.
3 _FILE_ represents current file name.
4 _LINE_ represents current line number.

What is the task of pre-processor?

Explanation: The pre-processor is typically a program. This programming process the input data provided by the user for producing the required output is used as an input for another program. In simple words, the processing executed on “source code before the next step of compilation”.

What is difference between compiler and preprocessor?

A compiler translates a program written in a programming language into executable machine code. A preprocessor alters program source code written in a programming language yielding a more specific version of the program in programming language. After a preprocessor a program must still be compiled.

What is preprocessor in C programming?

The C preprocessor is a macro preprocessor (allows you to define macros) that transforms your program before it is compiled. These transformations can be the inclusion of header files, macro expansions, etc. All preprocessing directives begin with a # symbol. For example, #define PI 3.14.

What must be predefined in C++ compiler?

Standard predefined macros

  • __cplusplus Defined as an integer literal value when the translation unit is compiled as C++.
  • __DATE__ The compilation date of the current source file.
  • __FILE__ The name of the current source file.
  • __LINE__ Defined as the integer line number in the current source file.

What is preprocessor in C language?

Working of C Preprocessor. The C preprocessor is a macro preprocessor (allows you to define macros) that transforms your program before it is compiled. These transformations can be the inclusion of header files, macro expansions, etc. All preprocessing directives begin with a # symbol.

Why macro is used in C?

In C, the macro is used to define any constant value or any variable with its value in the entire program that will be replaced by this macro name, where macro contains the set of code that will be called when the macro name is used in the program.

What happens in preprocessor stage?

Preprocessing is the first pass of any C compilation. It processes include-files, conditional compilation instructions and macros. Compilation is the second pass. It takes the output of the preprocessor, and the source code, and generates assembler source code.

What is the difference between compiler and preprocessor?

What is difference between linker and preprocessor?

preprocessor utility generates the C source to be compiled. compiler compiles the C source into object code generating a set of object files. linker links the various object files along with any libraries into executable file.