<assert.h>: Diagnostics

Macros
#define	assert(expression)

Detailed Description

#include <assert.h> 

This header file defines a debugging aid.

As there is no standard error output stream available for many applications using this library, the generation of a printable error message is not enabled by default. These messages will only be generated if the application defines the macro

__ASSERT_USE_STDERR 

before including the <assert.h> header file. By default, only abort() will be called to halt the application.

Macro Definition Documentation

assert

#define assert

(

expression

)

Parameters

expression

Expression to test for.

The assert() macro tests the given expression and if it is false, the calling process is terminated by calling abort(). When the macro __ASSERT_USE_STDERR was defined prior to including <assert.h>, then a diagnostic message is written to stderr.

If expression is true, the assert() macro does nothing.

The assert() macro may be removed at compile time by defining NDEBUG as a macro (e.g., by using the compiler option -DNDEBUG).