INFO: Why System Include Files Prototype Functions as _cdecl

Last reviewed: August 26, 1997
Article ID: Q37233
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft C for MS-DOS, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0ax
  • Microsoft C/C++ for MS-DOS, version 7.0
  • Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.5, 1.51, 1.52
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 32-bit Edition, versions 1.0, 2.0, 2.1, 4.0, 5.0

SUMMARY

The system include files declare functions that use the C calling and naming conventions with the attribute "cdecl".

The compiler uses the C calling and naming conventions by default unless the compiler command line specifies the /Gc or /Gz option switches. The /Gc switch instructs the compiler to use the Pascal (FORTRAN) calling convention by default. The 32-bit compilers do not support the /Gc option switch; they use the /Gz option switch that instructs the compiler to use the __stdcall calling and naming convention by default.

The "cdecl" attribute instructs the compiler to generate run-time library calls using the C calling and naming conventions even when the command line specifies the /Gc or /Gz option.

Keywords          : CLngIss kbfasttip
Version           : MS-DOS:6.0,6.00a,6.00ax,7.0; OS/2:6.0,6.00a;  WINDOWS:1.0,1.5,1.51,1.52 WINDOWS NT:1.0,2.0,4.0,5.0
Platform          : MS-DOS NT OS/2 WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbinfo


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Last reviewed: August 26, 1997
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