What is the difference between define and const in C++?

In C++, both #define and const can be used to define constants, but they have some important differences.

  1. #define is a preprocessor directive that is processed before compiling and does not perform type checking. It merely replaces identifiers with text. On the other hand, const is a keyword that undergoes type checking during compilation to ensure the correctness of the constant’s type.
  2. #define can be used to define constants of any type, including strings and functions, while const can only be used to define constant variables.
  3. Constants defined with #define have no scope restrictions and are global. On the other hand, constants defined with const are scoped and only visible within the scope where they are defined.
  4. #define does not allocate memory, while const allocates memory and maintains the value of the constant throughout the program’s lifespan.
  5. #define can be used anywhere, including inside functions, while const can only be used in global scope or namespace scope.

In conclusion, const is a safer and more controlled way to define constants, providing better type checking and scope limitations. In modern C++, it is recommended to use const for defining constants and to avoid using #define as much as possible.

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