#define
Syntax:
  #define macro-name replacement-string

The #define command is used to make substitutions throughout the file in which it is located. In other words, #define causes the compiler to go through the file, replacing every occurrence of macro-name with replacement-string. The replacement string stops at the end of the line.


#error
Syntax:
  #error message

The #error command simply causes the compiler to stop when it is encountered. When an #error is encountered, the compiler spits out the line number and whatever message is. This command is mostly used for debugging.


#include
Syntax:
  #include <filename>
  #include "filename"

This command slurps in a file and inserts it at the current location. The main difference between the syntax of the two items is that if filename is enclosed in angled brackets, then the compiler searches for it somehow. If it is enclosed in quotes, then the compiler doesn't search very hard for the file.

While the behavior of these two searches is up to the compiler, usually the angled brackets means to search through the standard library directories, while the quotes indicate a search in the current directory. The spiffy new C++ #include commands don't need to map directly to filenames, at least not for the standard libraries. That's why you can get away with

   #include <iostream>            

and not have the compiler choke on you.


#line
Syntax:
  #line line_number "filename"

The #line command is simply used to change the value of the __LINE__ and __FILE__ variables. The filename is optional. The __LINE__ and __FILE__ variables represent the current file and which line is being read. The command

   #line 10 "main.cpp"                

changes the current line number to 10, and the current file to "main.cpp".


#pragma

The #pragma command gives the programmer the ability to tell the compiler to do certain things. Since the #pragma command is implementation specific, uses vary from compiler to compiler. One option might be to trace program execution.


#if, #ifdef, #ifndef, #else, #elif, #endif

These commands give simple logic control to the compiler. As a file is being compiled, you can use these commands to cause certain lines of code to be included or not included.

   #if expression               

If the value of expression is true, then the code that immediately follows the command will be compiled.

   #ifdef macro         

If the macro has been defined by a #define statement, then the code immediately following the command will be compiled.

   #ifndef macro                

If the macro has not been defined by a #define statement, then the code immediately following the command will be compiled.

A few side notes: The command #elif is simply a horribly truncated way to say "elseif" and works like you think it would. You can also throw in a "defined" or "!defined" after an #if to get added functionality.


Predefined preprocessor variables
Syntax:
  __LINE__
  __FILE__
  __DATE__
  __TIME__
  __cplusplus
  __STDC__

The following variables can vary by compiler, but generally work:


#, ##

The # and ## operators are used with the #define macro. Using # causes the first argument after the # to be returned as a string in quotes. Using ## concatenates what's before the ## with what's after it.


#undef

The #undef command undefines a previously defined macro variable, such as a variable defined by a #define.