InIine Function In C Language

In C programming, an inline function is a function that is expanded in place by the compiler at the point where the function is called, rather than being called as a separate function. The purpose of inline functions is to improve the performance of a program by reducing the overhead of function call and return.

To declare an inline function in C, the keyword "inline" is added before the function's return type in the function declaration or definition. For example:

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inline int add(int a, int b) {    return a + b; }

When the compiler encounters an inline function, it replaces the function call with a copy of the function's code. This can improve performance by reducing the overhead of function calls and returns, but it can also increase the size of the final executable.

It is important to note that, whether a function is declared as inline or not, the decision of whether to actually inline the function or not is up to the compiler, it may not always inline it even if it is declared as such, and it may inline a function even if it's not declared as such. The use of inline function should be done with care, as excessive use of inline functions can lead to increased code size and reduced performance.

In general, inline functions are useful for small, frequently called functions, such as those used for simple mathematical operations or for accessing small data structures.