c++undef

Why is #undef not working for my function?


I defined something at the beginning:

#define noprint

Then I returned in my functions if it's defined:

void print()
{
    #ifdef noprint
        return;
    #else
        //do stuff
    #endif
}

Then in the main function:

main()
{
    #undef noprint
    print();
}

And it still doesn't work. How come?


Solution

  • Macros are not variables. They are a simple text replacement tool. If you define, or undefine a macro, then that (un)definition has no effect on the source that precedes the macro. The function definition doesn't change after it has been defined.

    Example:

    #define noprint
    // noprint is defined after the line above
    
    void print()
    {
        #ifdef noprint // this is true because noprint is defined
            return;
        #else
            //do stuff
        #endif
    }
    
    main()
    {
        #undef noprint
    // noprint is no longer after the line above
        print();
    }
    

    After pre-processing has finished, the resulting source looks like this:

    void print()
    {
        return;
    }
    
    main()
    {
        print();
    }
    

    P.S. You must give all functions a return type. The return type of main must be int.