15 Preprocessing directives [cpp]

15.6 Macro replacement [cpp.replace]

Two replacement lists are identical if and only if the preprocessing tokens in both have the same number, ordering, spelling, and white-space separation, where all white-space separations are considered identical.

An identifier currently defined as an object-like macro (see below) may be redefined by another #define preprocessing directive provided that the second definition is an object-like macro definition and the two replacement lists are identical, otherwise the program is ill-formed.

Likewise, an identifier currently defined as a function-like macro (see below) may be redefined by another #define preprocessing directive provided that the second definition is a function-like macro definition that has the same number and spelling of parameters, and the two replacement lists are identical, otherwise the program is ill-formed.

[Example

The following sequence is valid:

#define OBJ_LIKE      (1-1)
#define OBJ_LIKE      /* white space */ (1-1) /* other */
#define FUNC_LIKE(a)   ( a )
#define FUNC_LIKE( a )(     /* note the white space */ \
                a /* other stuff on this line
                  */ )

But the following redefinitions are invalid:

#define OBJ_LIKE    (0)         // different token sequence
#define OBJ_LIKE    (1 - 1)     // different white space
#define FUNC_LIKE(b) ( a )      // different parameter usage
#define FUNC_LIKE(b) ( b )      // different parameter spelling

— end example

]

There shall be white-space between the identifier and the replacement list in the definition of an object-like macro.

If the identifier-list in the macro definition does not end with an ellipsis, the number of arguments (including those arguments consisting of no preprocessing tokens) in an invocation of a function-like macro shall equal the number of parameters in the macro definition.

Otherwise, there shall be at least as many arguments in the invocation as there are parameters in the macro definition (excluding the ...).

There shall exist a ) preprocessing token that terminates the invocation.

The identifiers __VA_ARGS__ and __VA_OPT__ shall occur only in the replacement-list of a function-like macro that uses the ellipsis notation in the parameters.

A parameter identifier in a function-like macro shall be uniquely declared within its scope.

The identifier immediately following the define is called the macro name.

There is one name space for macro names.

Any white-space characters preceding or following the replacement list of preprocessing tokens are not considered part of the replacement list for either form of macro.

If a # preprocessing token, followed by an identifier, occurs lexically at the point at which a preprocessing directive could begin, the identifier is not subject to macro replacement.

A preprocessing directive of the form

# define identifier replacement-list new-line

defines an object-like macro that causes each subsequent instance of the macro name145 to be replaced by the replacement list of preprocessing tokens that constitute the remainder of the directive.146

The replacement list is then rescanned for more macro names as specified below.

[Example

The simplest use of this facility is to define a “manifest constant”, as in

#define TABSIZE 100
int table[TABSIZE];

— end example

]

A preprocessing directive of the form

# define identifier lparen identifier-list

_{o p t}

) replacement-list new-line
# define identifier lparen ... ) replacement-list new-line
# define identifier lparen identifier-list , ... ) replacement-list new-line

defines a function-like macro with parameters, whose use is similar syntactically to a function call.

The parameters are specified by the optional list of identifiers, whose scope extends from their declaration in the identifier list until the new-line character that terminates the #define preprocessing directive.

Each subsequent instance of the function-like macro name followed by a ( as the next preprocessing token introduces the sequence of preprocessing tokens that is replaced by the replacement list in the definition (an invocation of the macro).

The replaced sequence of preprocessing tokens is terminated by the matching ) preprocessing token, skipping intervening matched pairs of left and right parenthesis preprocessing tokens.

Within the sequence of preprocessing tokens making up an invocation of a function-like macro, new-line is considered a normal white-space character.

The sequence of preprocessing tokens bounded by the outside-most matching parentheses forms the list of arguments for the function-like macro.

The individual arguments within the list are separated by comma preprocessing tokens, but comma preprocessing tokens between matching inner parentheses do not separate arguments.

If there are sequences of preprocessing tokens within the list of arguments that would otherwise act as preprocessing directives,147 the behavior is undefined.

[Example

The following defines a function-like macro whose value is the maximum of its arguments.

It has the disadvantages of evaluating one or the other of its arguments a second time (including side effects) and generating more code than a function if invoked several times.

It also cannot have its address taken, as it has none.

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

The parentheses ensure that the arguments and the resulting expression are bound properly.

— end example

]

If there is a ... immediately preceding the ) in the function-like macro definition, then the trailing arguments (if any), including any separating comma preprocessing tokens, are merged to form a single item: the variable arguments.

The number of arguments so combined is such that, following merger, the number of arguments is either equal to or one more than the number of parameters in the macro definition (excluding the ...).

145)

Since, by macro-replacement time, all character-literals and string-literals are preprocessing tokens, not sequences possibly containing identifier-like subsequences (see [lex.phases], translation phases), they are never scanned for macro names or parameters.

⮥

146)

An alternative token is not an identifier, even when its spelling consists entirely of letters and underscores.

Therefore it is not possible to define a macro whose name is the same as that of an alternative token.

⮥

147)

A conditionally-supported-directive is a preprocessing directive regardless of whether the implementation supports it.

⮥

15.6.1 Argument substitution [cpp.subst]

va-opt-replacement:
__VA_OPT__ ( pp-tokens

_{o p t}

)

After the arguments for the invocation of a function-like macro have been identified, argument substitution takes place.

For each parameter in the replacement list that is neither preceded by a # or ## preprocessing token nor followed by a ## preprocessing token, the preprocessing tokens naming the parameter are replaced by a token sequence determined as follows:

(1.1)
If the parameter is of the form va-opt-replacement, the replacement preprocessing tokens are the preprocessing token sequence for the corresponding argument, as specified below.
(1.2)
Otherwise, the replacement preprocessing tokens are the preprocessing tokens of corresponding argument after all macros contained therein have been expanded. The argument's preprocessing tokens are completely macro replaced before being substituted as if they formed the rest of the preprocessing file with no other preprocessing tokens being available.

[Example

#define LPAREN() (
#define G(Q) 42
#define F(R, X, ...)  __VA_OPT__(G R X) )
int x = F(LPAREN(), 0, <:-);    // replaced by int x = 42;

— end example

]

An identifier __VA_ARGS__ that occurs in the replacement list shall be treated as if it were a parameter, and the variable arguments shall form the preprocessing tokens used to replace it.

[Example

#define debug(...) fprintf(stderr, __VA_ARGS__)
#define showlist(...) puts(#__VA_ARGS__)
#define report(test, ...) ((test) ? puts(#test) : printf(__VA_ARGS__))
debug("Flag");
debug("X = %d\n", x);
showlist(The first, second, and third items.);
report(x>y, "x is %d but y is %d", x, y);

results in

fprintf(stderr, "Flag");
fprintf(stderr, "X = %d\n", x);
puts("The first, second, and third items.");
((x>y) ? puts("x>y") : printf("x is %d but y is %d", x, y));

— end example

]

The identifier __VA_OPT__ shall always occur as part of the preprocessing token sequence va-opt-replacement; its closing ) is determined by skipping intervening pairs of matching left and right parentheses in its pp-tokens .

The pp-tokens of a va-opt-replacement shall not contain __VA_OPT__.

If the pp-tokens would be ill-formed as the replacement list of the current function-like macro, the program is ill-formed.

A va-opt-replacement is treated as if it were a parameter, and the preprocessing token sequence for the corresponding argument is defined as follows.

If the substitution of __VA_ARGS__ as neither an operand of # nor ## consists of no preprocessing tokens, the argument consists of a single placemarker preprocessing token ([cpp.concat], [cpp.rescan]).

Otherwise, the argument consists of the results of the expansion of the contained pp-tokens as the replacement list of the current function-like macro before removal of placemarker tokens, rescanning, and further replacement.

[Note

The placemarker tokens are removed before stringization ([cpp.stringize]), and can be removed by rescanning and further replacement ([cpp.rescan]).

— end note

]

[Example

#define F(...)           f(0 __VA_OPT__(,) __VA_ARGS__)
#define G(X, ...)        f(0, X __VA_OPT__(,) __VA_ARGS__)
#define SDEF(sname, ...) S sname __VA_OPT__(= { __VA_ARGS__ })
#define EMP

F(a, b, c)          // replaced by f(0, a, b, c)
F()                 // replaced by f(0)
F(EMP)              // replaced by f(0)

G(a, b, c)          // replaced by f(0, a, b, c)
G(a, )              // replaced by f(0, a)
G(a)                // replaced by f(0, a)

SDEF(foo);          // replaced by S foo;
SDEF(bar, 1, 2);    // replaced by S bar = { 1, 2 };

#define H1(X, ...) X __VA_OPT__(##) __VA_ARGS__ // error: ## may not appear at
                                                // the beginning of a replacement list ([cpp.concat])

#define H2(X, Y, ...) __VA_OPT__(X ## Y,) __VA_ARGS__
H2(a, b, c, d)      // replaced by ab, c, d

#define H3(X, ...) #__VA_OPT__(X##X X##X)
H3(, 0)             // replaced by ""

#define H4(X, ...) __VA_OPT__(a X ## X) ## b
H4(, 1)             // replaced by a b

#define H5A(...) __VA_OPT__()/**/__VA_OPT__()
#define H5B(X) a ## X ## b
#define H5C(X) H5B(X)
H5C(H5A())          // replaced by ab

— end example

]

15.6.2 The # operator [cpp.stringize]

Each # preprocessing token in the replacement list for a function-like macro shall be followed by a parameter as the next preprocessing token in the replacement list.

A character string literal is a string-literal with no prefix.

If, in the replacement list, a parameter is immediately preceded by a # preprocessing token, both are replaced by a single character string literal preprocessing token that contains the spelling of the preprocessing token sequence for the corresponding argument (excluding placemarker tokens).

Let the stringizing argument be the preprocessing token sequence for the corresponding argument with placemarker tokens removed.

Each occurrence of white space between the stringizing argument's preprocessing tokens becomes a single space character in the character string literal.

White space before the first preprocessing token and after the last preprocessing token comprising the stringizing argument is deleted.

Otherwise, the original spelling of each preprocessing token in the stringizing argument is retained in the character string literal, except for special handling for producing the spelling of string-literals and character-literals: a \ character is inserted before each " and \ character of a character-literal or string-literal (including the delimiting " characters).

If the replacement that results is not a valid character string literal, the behavior is undefined.

The character string literal corresponding to an empty stringizing argument is "".

The order of evaluation of # and ## operators is unspecified.

15.6.3 The ## operator [cpp.concat]

A ## preprocessing token shall not occur at the beginning or at the end of a replacement list for either form of macro definition.

If, in the replacement list of a function-like macro, a parameter is immediately preceded or followed by a ## preprocessing token, the parameter is replaced by the corresponding argument's preprocessing token sequence; however, if an argument consists of no preprocessing tokens, the parameter is replaced by a placemarker preprocessing token instead.148

For both object-like and function-like macro invocations, before the replacement list is reexamined for more macro names to replace, each instance of a ## preprocessing token in the replacement list (not from an argument) is deleted and the preceding preprocessing token is concatenated with the following preprocessing token.

Placemarker preprocessing tokens are handled specially: concatenation of two placemarkers results in a single placemarker preprocessing token, and concatenation of a placemarker with a non-placemarker preprocessing token results in the non-placemarker preprocessing token.

If the result is not a valid preprocessing token, the behavior is undefined.

The resulting token is available for further macro replacement.

The order of evaluation of ## operators is unspecified.

[Example

The sequence

#define str(s)      # s
#define xstr(s)     str(s)
#define debug(s, t) printf("x" # s "= %d, x" # t "= %s", \
               x ## s, x ## t)
#define INCFILE(n)  vers ## n
#define glue(a, b)  a ## b
#define xglue(a, b) glue(a, b)
#define HIGHLOW     "hello"
#define LOW         LOW ", world"

debug(1, 2);
fputs(str(strncmp("abc\0d", "abc", '\4')        // this goes away
    == 0) str(: @\n), s);
#include xstr(INCFILE(2).h)
glue(HIGH, LOW);
xglue(HIGH, LOW)

results in

printf("x" "1" "= %d, x" "2" "= %s", x1, x2);
fputs("strncmp(\"abc\\0d\", \"abc\", '\\4') == 0" ": @\n", s);
#include "vers2.h"      (after macro replacement, before file access)
"hello";
"hello" ", world"

or, after concatenation of the character string literals,

printf("x1= %d, x2= %s", x1, x2);
fputs("strncmp(\"abc\\0d\", \"abc\", '\\4') == 0: @\n", s);
#include "vers2.h"      (after macro replacement, before file access)
"hello";
"hello, world"

Space around the # and ## tokens in the macro definition is optional.

— end example

]

[Example

In the following fragment:

#define hash_hash # ## #
#define mkstr(a) # a
#define in_between(a) mkstr(a)
#define join(c, d) in_between(c hash_hash d)
char p[] = join(x, y);          // equivalent to char p[] = "x ## y";

The expansion produces, at various stages:

join(x, y)
in_between(x hash_hash y)
in_between(x ## y)
mkstr(x ## y)
"x ## y"

In other words, expanding hash_hash produces a new token, consisting of two adjacent sharp signs, but this new token is not the ## operator.

— end example

]

[Example

To illustrate the rules for placemarker preprocessing tokens, the sequence

#define t(x,y,z) x ## y ## z
int j[] = { t(1,2,3), t(,4,5), t(6,,7), t(8,9,),
  t(10,,), t(,11,), t(,,12), t(,,) };

results in

int j[] = { 123, 45, 67, 89,
  10, 11, 12, };

— end example

]

148)

Placemarker preprocessing tokens do not appear in the syntax because they are temporary entities that exist only within translation phase 4.

⮥

15.6.4 Rescanning and further replacement [cpp.rescan]

After all parameters in the replacement list have been substituted and # and ## processing has taken place, all placemarker preprocessing tokens are removed.

Then the resulting preprocessing token sequence is rescanned, along with all subsequent preprocessing tokens of the source file, for more macro names to replace.

[Example

The sequence

#define x       3
#define f(a)    f(x * (a))
#undef  x
#define x       2
#define g       f
#define z       z[0]
#define h       g(~
#define m(a)    a(w)
#define w       0,1
#define t(a)    a
#define p()     int
#define q(x)    x
#define r(x,y)  x ## y
#define str(x)  # x

f(y+1) + f(f(z)) % t(t(g)(0) + t)(1);
g(x+(3,4)-w) | h 5) & m
    (f)^m(m);
p() i[q()] = { q(1), r(2,3), r(4,), r(,5), r(,) };
char c[2][6] = { str(hello), str() };

results in

f(2 * (y+1)) + f(2 * (f(2 * (z[0])))) % f(2 * (0)) + t(1);
f(2 * (2+(3,4)-0,1)) | f(2 * (~ 5)) & f(2 * (0,1))^m(0,1);
int i[] = { 1, 23, 4, 5, };
char c[2][6] = { "hello", "" };

— end example

]

If the name of the macro being replaced is found during this scan of the replacement list (not including the rest of the source file's preprocessing tokens), it is not replaced.

Furthermore, if any nested replacements encounter the name of the macro being replaced, it is not replaced.

These nonreplaced macro name preprocessing tokens are no longer available for further replacement even if they are later (re)examined in contexts in which that macro name preprocessing token would otherwise have been replaced.

The resulting completely macro-replaced preprocessing token sequence is not processed as a preprocessing directive even if it resembles one, but all pragma unary operator expressions within it are then processed as specified in [cpp.pragma.op] below.

15.6.5 Scope of macro definitions [cpp.scope]

A macro definition lasts (independent of block structure) until a corresponding #undef directive is encountered or (if none is encountered) until the end of the translation unit.

Macro definitions have no significance after translation phase 4.

A preprocessing directive of the form

# undef identifier new-line

causes the specified identifier no longer to be defined as a macro name.

It is ignored if the specified identifier is not currently defined as a macro name.