Inline functions vs Preprocessor macros

Question

How does an inline function differ from a preprocessor macro?

Answer 1

From the perspective of coding, an inline function is like a function. Thus, the differences between an inline function and a macro are the same as the differences between a function and a macro.

From the perspective of compiling, an inline function is similar to a macro. It is injected directly into the code, not called.

In general, you should consider inline functions to be regular functions with some minor optimization mixed in. And like most optimizations, it is up to the compiler to decide if it actually cares to apply it. Often the compiler will happily ignore any attempts by the programmer to inline a function, for various reasons.

Answer 2

An inline function will maintain value semantics, whereas a preprocessor macro just copies the syntax. You can get very subtle bugs with a preprocessor macro if you use the argument multiple times - for example if the argument contains mutation like "i++" having that execute twice is quite a surprise. An inline function will not have this problem.

Answer 3

Preprocessor macros are just substitution patterns applied to your code. They can be used almost anywhere in your code because they are replaced with their expansions before any compilation starts.

Inline functions are actual functions whose body is directly injected into their call site. They can only be used where a function call is appropriate.

Now, as far as using macros vs. inline functions in a function-like context, be advised that:

• Macros are not type safe, and can be expanded regardless of whether they are syntatically correct - the compile phase will report errors resulting from macro expansion problems.
• Macros can be used in context where you don't expect, resulting in problems
• Macros are more flexible, in that they can expand other macros - whereas inline functions don't necessarily do this.
• Macros can result in side effects because of their expansion, since the input expressions are copied wherever they appear in the pattern.
• Inline function are not always guaranteed to be inlined - some compilers only do this in release builds, or when they are specifically configured to do so. Also, in some cases inlining may not be possible.
• Inline functions can provide scope for variables (particularly static ones), preprocessor macros can only do this in code blocks {...}, and static variables will not behave exactly the same way.

Answer 4

The Inline function are expanded by the compiler where as the macros are expanded by the Preprocessor, which is mere textual substitution.Hence

• There is no type checking during macro invocation while type checking is done during function call.

• Undesired results and inefficiency may occur during macro expansion due to reevaluation of arguments and order of operations. For example

  #define MAX(a,b) ((a)>(b) ? (a) : (b))
  int i = 5, j = MAX(i++, 0);
  

  would result in

  int i = 5, j = ((i++)>(0) ? (i++) : (0));
  

• The macro arguments are not evaluated before macro expansion

  #define MUL(a, b) a*b
  int main()
  {
    // The macro is expended as 2 + 3 * 3 + 5, not as 5*8
    printf("%d", MUL(2+3, 3+5));
   return 0;
  }
  // Output: 16`
  

• The return keyword cannot be used in macros to return values as in the case of functions.

• Inline functions can be overloaded

• The tokens passed to macros can be concatenated using operator ## called Token-Pasting operator .

• Macros are generally used for code reuse where as inline functions are used to eliminate the time overhead (excess time) during function call(avoiding a jump to a subroutine).

Answer 5

#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
#define NUMBER 10 //macros are preprocessed while functions are not.
int number()
{ 
    return 10;
}
/*In macros, no type checking(incompatible operand, etc.) is done and thus use of micros can lead to errors/side-effects in some cases. 
However, this is not the case with functions.
Also, macros do not check for compilation error (if any). Consider:- */
#define CUBE(b) b*b*b
int cube(int a)
{
 return a*a*a;
}
int main()
{
 cout<<NUMBER<<endl<<number()<<endl;
 cout<<CUBE(1+3); //Unexpected output 10
 cout<<endl<<cube(1+3);// As expected 64
 return 0;
}

Macros are typically faster than functions as they don’t involve actual function call overhead.

Some Disadvantages of macros: There is no type checking.Difficult to debug as they cause simple replacement.Macro don’t have namespace, so a macro in one section of code can affect other section. Macros can cause side effects as shown in above CUBE() example.

Macros are usually one liner. However, they can consist of more than one line.There are no such constraints in functions.

Answer 6

The key difference is type checking. The compiler will check whether what you pass as input values is of types that can be passed into the function. That's not true with preprocessor macros - they are expanded prior to any type checking and that can cause severe and hard to detect bugs.

Here are several other less obvious points outlined.