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Why Do We Use Main in C or C Language - Quora

The main() function in C and C++ is used to mark the entry point of a program where execution begins. While main() may seem like the actual starting point, several things like initializing global objects occur before main() is called. The name main() is simply a convention that has been standardized for hosted environments that require a starting point, but other languages or environments may use different naming or mechanisms.

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137 views3 pages

Why Do We Use Main in C or C Language - Quora

The main() function in C and C++ is used to mark the entry point of a program where execution begins. While main() may seem like the actual starting point, several things like initializing global objects occur before main() is called. The name main() is simply a convention that has been standardized for hosted environments that require a starting point, but other languages or environments may use different naming or mechanisms.

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8/6/2016

Whydoweusemain()inCorC++language?Quora

C(programminglanguage)
ProgrammingLanguages

C++(programminglanguage)

LearningtoProgram

ComputerProgramming

Whydoweusemain()inCorC++language?
AlsoisthereanyprograminCorC++whichcanberunsuccessfullywithoutmain()?

19Answers
ViktorT.Toth,beganhisprogrammingcareeronaCDC3300mainframeandanSR
52calculator
16.5kViewsViktorhas90+answersinComputerProgramming

WhatmakesyouthinkthattheHello,Worldprogramrunswithoutacalltothefunction
main()?
Thefunctionmain()is,infact,called.Butitisnotcalledexplicitlythecallisimplicit.
Whichmeansthatyoudonothavetowritethatcallintoyourprogram,itisdone
Searchforquestions,people,andtopics
automaticallybytheruntimeenvironment.
Inotherwords,whenyoucompileaCprogram,theactualcodegeneratedbythecompiler
beginswithapreamblethatsetsupmemory,configuresstandardinputandoutput,and
doesafewotherhousekeepingchores,followedbyacalltothemain()function,followed
bycleanupandterminationcode.

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Ifyouweretotrytocompileaprogramwithnomain()function,thelinkerwouldactually
complainaboutitsabsence,becauseitisreferencedintheruntimeenvironment.
WrittenSep3,2015ViewUpvotes

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TribhubanJha
4.4kViewsTribhubanhas30+answersinComputerProgramming

main()isauserdefinedfunctionfromwhereexecutionofC/C++programsstart!
Now,ifuaskwhyshoulditstartwithmain(),wellithadtostartsomewhereandDennis
Ritchiesirchoseittobehere.:)
Edit:
Havealookatthisforbetterunderstandingofinsight:)RaghavYadav'sanswertoWhat
aretheC/C++programsthatcanbewrittenwithoutmain()function?
UpdatedOct21,2014ViewUpvotes

JerryCoffin,Guywhowritessomecode.
2.4kViewsJerryhas180+answersinComputerProgramming

Althoughseveralhavehintedatit,thename`main`issimplyaconventionthat'sbeen
standardized.Inahostedenvironment(basically,whereyou'rerunningonanoperating
system)theCandC++standardsrequirethatyourcodecontainafunctionnamed
`main`,andthatitbewhereexecutionstarts(sortofglobalobjectsareinitializedbefore
mainstartstoexecute,soifyouprefer,youcanstartyourexecutionfromaconstructorof
aglobalobject,andleavemainemptybutthatwouldbecounterintuitiveenoughand
unusualenoughthatit'sgenerallyabadidea).

Onastandalonesystem(onewhereyourcoderunsdirectlyonthe"baremetal",without
anoperatingsystem),there'snorequirementaboutwhattheentrypoint(ifany)isnamed.
Insomecases,thereisnorealentrypointforexample,somesystemsjusthandle
hardwareinterrupts,sotheyhaveanumberofinterrupthandlers,andwhenthere'sno

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8/6/2016

Whydoweusemain()inCorC++language?Quora

interrupt,theCPUjustsleeps.

Incaseanybodycareswherethename`main`camefrom,theearliestlanguageofwhich
I'mawarethatusedthatnameforaprogram'sentrypointwasPL/I(fromaround1964).
WrittenMay19,2015ViewUpvotes

AndrewWeimholt
7.9kViewsAndrewhas30+answersinComputerProgramming

Themainisnottherealentrypoint.
Keepinmindtherearealotofthingsthathappenbeforemainiscalled.InC++,your
globalconstructorsarecalledbeforemain.EveninstraightC,therearethingsthatneedto
bedonebeforeyoucanexecute"main".
Ifyou'reusinggcc,it'sthe_startfunction(InsideC)
Here'sabetterarticleonhowthelinuxloaderstartsanexecutable"ELF"file:Linuxx86
ProgramStartUp
Notethatthefirstarticleshowsyouhowtooverride_startanddowithouthavingamain.
Searchforquestions,people,andtopics
Youcanhavea_startfunctionwhichdoesallthenormalstuffandthencallsomeother
functionasyourpseudoentrypointinsteadofmain.

SignIn

WrittenSep4,2014ViewUpvotes

XiangyuHu,Doneisbetterthanperfect.
2.1kViews

Fromcompiler'sview,main()isnothingdifferentthanotherexportedfunction,except
thatitisTHEcallbackentryofexecutableformats.Compiler'saddinstructionslike"bl
main"inthe_start()(executableentry,differsbetweendifferentplatforms)function.
WrittenSep28,2014ViewUpvotes

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