How to create and use header files in C++?
To create and use a header file, you can follow these steps:
- Create a header file:
To begin, create a new text file with a .h extension, such as myheader.h.
Within the header file, you can define functions, classes, variables, and other content. - For example, you can define a simple function in myheader.h.
- Include the header file called “myheader.h” and define a function to print the message “Hello, World!”
- In the example above, we used #ifndef and #define preprocessor directives to ensure that the header file is only included once.
- Include the header file in your source code file to access the contents defined in the header file.
- For example, if you want to use the printMessage function in the main.cpp file, you can add the following content at the top of the file:
- In main.cpp, include the header file “myheader.h” and then call the function printMessage() before returning 0.
- In this way, when compiling and running the main.cpp file, the compiler will insert the content of myheader.h file into main.cpp file in order to use the printMessage function.
- Compile and run the code:
Compile the source code file using a C++ compiler such as g++ or clang++. - For example, compile the main.cpp file using the g++ compiler.
- Compile the main.cpp file using g++ and output the executable as main.
- Next, execute the generated executable file:
- Run the main program.
- The output should be:
- Greetings, Earth!
By doing so, you have successfully created and utilized a header file. Keep in mind that the contents of the header file can be included in multiple source code files for reusability in different locations.