Preprocessor

In computer science, a preprocessor is a affairs that processes its ascribe abstracts to aftermath achievement that is acclimated as ascribe to addition program. The achievement is said to be a preprocessed anatomy of the ascribe data, which is generally acclimated by some consecutive programs like compilers. The bulk and affectionate of processing done depends on the attributes of the preprocessor; some preprocessors are alone able of assuming almost simple textual substitutions and macro expansions, while others accept the ability of full-fledged programming languages.

A accepted archetype from computer programming is the processing performed on antecedent cipher afore the abutting footfall of compilation. In some computer languages (e.g., C and PL/I ) there is a appearance of adaptation accepted as preprocessing.