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[on:]

Hey everyone,

I know nowadays in C++ programming, using #define macros to define a constant is generally frowned upon, and the strong preference is to use constants.

Is there any reason in an Arduino library why a #define Macro may be better, faster, or more efficient than a constant?

If it matters, I am talking about unsigned short ints, or short ints.

Thanks.

[Reply #1 on:]

Is there any reason in an Arduino library why a #define Macro may be better, faster, or more efficient than a constant?

None that I can see, except when the code was written by somebody who has a personal preference for using #defines because that's what they are used to using.

[Reply #2 on:]

A "#define" could be overwritten without error.
A "const int" can not be overwritten with a different value.
And the compiled sketch has the same size.

[Reply #3 on:]

Is there any reason in an Arduino library why a #define Macro may be better,

See above plus a macro can be used in conditional compilation (#if #ifdef).

faster,

No.

or more efficient than a constant?

No.

If it matters, I am talking about unsigned short ints, or short ints.

It does not.


const is generally a better choice because it includes type.