NAME

assert() − verify program assertion

SYNOPSIS

#include <assert.h>

void assert(int expression);

DESCRIPTION

This macro is useful for putting diagnostics into programs.  When it is executed, if expression is false (zero), assert() prints:

Assertion failed: expression, file xyz, line nnn

on the standard error output and aborts.  In the error message, xyz is the name of the source file and nnn the source line number of the assert() statement. 

Compiling with the preprocessor option −DNDEBUG (see cpp(1)), or with the preprocessor control statement #define NDEBUG ahead of the #include <assert.h> statement, stops assertions from being compiled into the program. 

WARNINGS

The expression argument used by assert() in compatibility mode cannot contain string literals or double quotes without escapes. 

SEE ALSO

cpp(1), abort(3C). 

STANDARDS CONFORMANCE

assert(): AES, SVID2, SVID3, XPG2, XPG3, XPG4, FIPS 151-2, POSIX.1, ANSI C

Hewlett-Packard Company  —  HP-UX Release 10.20:  July 1996