In the previous chapters, we already used macros, such as @printf
in
Chapter 2, Variables, Types, and Operations, and @time
in Chapter 3, Functions. Macros are like functions, but instead of values, they take expressions (which can also be symbols or literals) as input arguments. When a macro is evaluated, the input expression is expanded, that is, the macro returns a modified expression. This expansion occurs at parse time when the syntax tree is being built, not when the code is actually executed.
The following highlights the difference between macros and functions when they are called or invoked:
Function: It takes the input values and returns the computed values at runtime
Macro: It takes the input expressions and returns the modified expressions at parse time
In other words, a macro is a custom program transformation. Macros are defined with the keyword as follows:
macro mname # code returning expression end
It is invoked as @mname exp1 exp2
or @mname(exp1, exp2)
(the...