Q1Compiler Design
Question
2 marks
What is Preprocessor?
Answer
A preprocessor is a program that processes the source code before the compiler proper, handling directives like macro expansion, file inclusion, and conditional compilation.
A preprocessor is a program that processes the source code before it is passed to the compiler. It handles preprocessor directives (commands starting with # in C/C++) and produces a modified source file that the compiler then processes.
- Macro Expansion: Replaces macro names with their defined bodies (e.g., #define MAX 100).
- File Inclusion: Inserts the contents of included files (e.g., #include <stdio.h>).
- Conditional Compilation: Includes/excludes code sections based on conditions (e.g., #ifdef, #ifndef, #endif).
- Line Control: Provides line number information for error messages.