compiler directive

An instruction within a source module to a compiler, as opposed to an executable statement. In the C language, directives can address the preprocessor portion of the compilation, requesting, for example, conditional compilation or inclusion of a named file. In 4GL, the WHENEVER and DEFER statements are compiler directive. The effect of the WHENEVER lasts until the end of the source file (or until overridden by another WHENEVER).

See also compile, exception handling, preprocessor, source module, statement.