CODEWITHSUNDEEP
cunixheader-files
Manik Sidana
Manik Sidana

Reputation: 2155

Does including unused headers have any impact on code?

Let's say I have a C program which only uses functions from stdio.h.

Now, if I include unwanted headers like stdlib.h, errno.h, etc. and compile the program, then will these unwanted headers have an impact on code segment?

I say "unwanted headers" because the program does not use functions declared in these headers.

Upvotes: 3

Views: 358

Answers (2)

Daniel
Daniel

Reputation: 411

Head files are used for compiler, if there are "unused head files", compile time will be low when the project is small.

But for a big project, it should be well handled. And you know "Simple is Beauty!"

And it's nothing to do with final binary product.

Upvotes: 1

GRAYgoose124
GRAYgoose124

Reputation: 674

No, your program only pulls in code that it references to. Including a header you don't use will be optimized out of the final code.

I should clarify, "Including a header you don't use will not result in 'extra waste' in the final product." No code is optimized out because no code is actually generated(since it's not referenced).

Upvotes: 2

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