inline
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Related to inline: Inline skates, Inline function
inline
(programming)(Or "unfold") To replace a function call with
an instance of the function's body. Actual argument
expressions are substituted for formal parameters as in
beta reduction. Inlining is usually done as a
compile-time transformation.
If done recklessly (e.g. attempting to inline a recursive function) the compiler will fail to terminate. If done over-enthusiastically the code size may increase exponentially, e.g. if function f calls g twice, and g calls h twice and h is inlined in g which is inlined in f (in either order) then there will be four copies of h's body in f.
See also linear argument, unfold/fold.
If done recklessly (e.g. attempting to inline a recursive function) the compiler will fail to terminate. If done over-enthusiastically the code size may increase exponentially, e.g. if function f calls g twice, and g calls h twice and h is inlined in g which is inlined in f (in either order) then there will be four copies of h's body in f.
See also linear argument, unfold/fold.
This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)
inline
(1) Interspersed within other source code. See inline code.(2) Between two hardware devices. For example, a network device that is placed between the user's machine and the network switch would be "inline." Contrast with a device that is attached only to the switch.
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