What is the role of the C preprocessor?
a) To process directives before compilation
b) To manage memory allocation
c) To handle input and output
d) To execute the main function
Answer:
a) To process directives before compilation
Explanation:
The C preprocessor is a tool that processes preprocessor directives before the actual compilation of the code begins. These directives, which begin with the # symbol, instruct the preprocessor to perform various tasks such as including header files (#include), defining constants (#define), and creating macros. The preprocessor does not produce any machine code; instead, it prepares the code for the compiler by performing text substitution and conditional compilation.
Understanding the role of the C preprocessor is important for managing code configuration, reusability, and conditional compilation in C programming.