# preprocessors

[shylubaskar]

What does this statement actually mean

#include<stdio.h>
what is this # stands for

[r035198x]

What does your textbook say?

[shylubaskar]

What does your textbook say?

Its just a directive to the header file placed in angle brackets.. what does it include

[r035198x]

# itself doesn't include anything. The "include" after it is the one that asks for a named header file to be made available.

P.S That textbook of yours contains all this and more.

[ANURAGBAJPAI]

#include is also a processor directive.
stdio.h is a header file that contain functions like printf(), scanf() etc.These functions are defined in stdio.h file.So if we don't write #include<stdio.h> , printf() and scanf() functions doesn't work.

[donbock]

#include is also a processor directive.
stdio.h is a header file that contain functions like printf(), scanf() etc.These functions are defined in stdio.h file.So if we don't write #include<stdio.h> , printf() and scanf() functions doesn't work.

I understand what you mean, but pedantically speaking it is a little different.

1. "#include" is [only] a preprocessor directive. The word "also" was misleading.

2. stdio.h is a header file, but it does NOT contain functions like printf(), scanf() etc. Instead, the header file contains macro definitions, typedefs, external variable declarations, and function prototype declarations that are needed in order for a user file to call functions like printf(), scanf(), etc. It contains function declarations, not function definitions.