Have a look at the following code:
#include<iostream.h>
#define MAX 10
void main(void)
{
for(int i=1;i<=MAX;i++)
cout<<i<<endl;
}
Above we have used the type of macro expansion that we learnt in the article Introduction to C++ Preprocessor Directives
Do you know that just like functions we can have arguments in the macros too! The following code shows how:
#include<iostream.h>
// this is how macros with
// arguments are defined
// NOTE: THERE SHOULD NOT BE
// ANY SPACE BETWEEN THE
// MACRO TEMPLATE (i.e. AREA)
// AND THE PARANTHESIS
// CONTAINING THE ARGUMENTS
// (i.e. (x))
#define AREA(x) (x*x)
void main(void)
{
// calling a macro
// is almost similar
// to calling a function
cout<<AREA(10);
}
It is that simple! However, keep one thing in mind as stated in the comments not to put any space between the macro template and the braces containing the argument.
#define AREA(x) (x*x) //correct #define AREA (x) (x*x) // incorrect
Why use Macros
While function can do the same thing, still there are times when macros preferred over function.
As a general rule, using macros increases the execution speed of a program but at the same time increase the file size of the program. On the other hand using functions decreases the speed of execution of program but also decreases the file size.
Therefore, macros are used in time critical programs where execution speed must be as fast as possible no matter what the file size is, in all other cases functions are generally used.
Good-Bye!
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