C++: Macros

[Web Developer]

Hi,

What are Macros in C++?


WD

 

[John Harrison]

Hi,

What are Macros in C++?

Paramatized textual substitutions in your source code.

john

 

[Kevin Goodsell]

Hi,

What are Macros in C++?

A macro is only slightly better than the "find and replace" function of
most text editors. If I define a macro like this:

#define SOME_MACRO some text

Then every occurrence of SOME_MACRO in the source that follows will be
replaced with "some text" (without the quote marks). There are
exceptions, though. If the code that follows contains this:

cout << "SOME_MACRO" << endl;

The substitution does not occur in this case because the SOME_MACRO is
inside a string literal.

You can also have parameterized macros that act somewhat like inlined
functions.

Use of macros is discouraged in C++. They are dangerous and rarely
necessary.

You should be able to read all about this in your C++ book. Why didn't
you? I guarantee you that you cannot learn C++ from a newsgroup.

-Kevin