Compile Header Article For Free

A header file is a file with extension . h which contains C function declarations and macro definitions to be shared between several source files. There are two types of header files: the files that the programmer writes and the files that comes with your compiler.

H. DON'T include any executable lines of code in a header file, including variable declarations. But note it is necessary to make an exception for the bodies of some inline functions, about which more below.

In C language, header files contain the set of predefined standard library functions....Master C and Embedded C Programming- Learn as you go. Sr.No.Header Files & Description1stdio.h Input/Output functions2conio.h Console Input/Output functions3stdlib.h General utility functions4math.h Mathematics functions6 more rows ?

So what's the difference between Header files and Source files? Basically, header files are #included and not compiled, whereas source files are compiled and not #included. You can try to side-step these conventions and make a file with a source extension behave like a header or vice-versa, but you shouldn't.

If a header file happens to be included twice, the compiler will process its contents twice. This is very likely to cause an error, e.g. when the compiler sees the same structure definition twice. Even if it does not, it will certainly waste time.

A compiler takes the program code (source code) and converts the source code to a machine language module (called an object file). Another specialized program, called a linker, combines this object file with other previously compiled object files (in particular run-time modules) to create an executable file.

You don't need to compile header files. It doesn't actually do anything, so there's no point in trying to run it. However, it is a great way to check for typos and mistakes and bugs, so it'll be easier later.