c/preprocessor

The preprocessor is executed at translation phase 4, before the compilation. The result of preprocessing is a single file which is then passed to the actual compiler.

Directives
The preprocessing directives control the behavior of the preprocessor. Each directive occupies one line and has the following format:


 * character
 * preprocessing instruction (one of, , , , , , , , , , , )
 * arguments (depends on the instruction)
 * line break

The null directive ( followed by a line break) is allowed and has no effect.

Capabilities
The preprocessor has the source file translation capabilities:


 *  compile of parts of source file (controlled by directive, , , , and ).
 *  text macros while possibly concatenating or quoting identifiers (controlled by directives and, and operators  and )
 *  other files (controlled by directive )
 * cause an  (controlled by directive )

The following aspects of the preprocessor can be controlled:
 *  behavior (controlled by directive )
 *  available to the preprocessor (controlled by directives )