Compiler Options Listed by Category
The following is a comprehensive categorical list of compiler options. For an alphabetical list, see Compiler Options Listed Alphabetically.
| Option | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Creates small code | |
| Creates fast code | |
| Controls inline expansion | |
| Disables optimization | |
| Uses global optimizations | |
| Generates intrinsic functions | |
| Favors small code | |
| Favors fast code | |
| Uses maximum optimization (/Ob2gity /Gs) | |
| Omits frame pointer (x86 only) |
| Option | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Use SSE or SSE2 instructions in code generation (x86 only) | |
| Increases the number of addressable sections in an .obj file. | |
| Produces an output file to run on the common language runtime | |
| Specifies the model of exception handling | |
| Produces code that is optimized for a specific x64 architecture or for the specifics of micro-architectures in both the AMD64 and Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T) architectures. | |
| Specify floating-point behavior. | |
| Optimize for Itanium processor. Only available in the IPF cross compiler or IPF native compiler. | |
| Optimize for Itanium2 processor. Only available in the IPF cross compiler or IPF native compiler. | |
| Uses the __cdecl calling convention (x86 only) | |
| Activates stack probes | |
| Enables string pooling | |
| Calls hook function _penter | |
| Calls hook function _pexit | |
| Enables whole program optimization | |
| Enables minimal rebuild | |
| Enables run-time type information (RTTI) | |
| Uses the __fastcall calling convention (x86 only) | |
| Controls stack probes | |
| Supports fiber safety for data allocated using static thread-local storage | |
| Enables synchronous exception handling | |
| Enables function-level linking | |
| Uses the __stdcall calling convention (x86 only) | |
| Creates a multithreaded DLL using MSVCRT.lib | |
| Creates a debug multithreaded DLL using MSVCRTD.lib | |
| Creates a multithreaded executable file using LIBCMT.lib | |
| Creates a debug multithreaded executable file using LIBCMTD.lib |
| Option | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Creates a listing file Sets listing file name | |
| Creates a listing file Sets listing file name | |
| Renames program database file | |
| Renames the executable file | |
| Creates a mapfile | |
| Creates an object file | |
| Specifies a precompiled header file name | |
| Generates browser files | |
| Merges injected code with source file |
| Option | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Buffers security check | |
| Same as /RTC1 | |
| Forces parameters passed in registers to be written to their locations on the stack upon function entry. This compiler option is only for the x64 compilers (native and cross compile). | |
| Enables run-time error checking | |
| Detects 64-bit portability problems | |
| Places complete debugging information in all object files | |
| Injects a PCH reference when creating a debug library | |
| Generates C 7.0–compatible debugging information | |
| Generates complete debugging information | |
| Includes debug information in a program database compatible with Edit and Continue (x86 only) | |
| Generates debuggable optimized code. Only available in the IPF cross compiler or IPF native compiler. |
| Option | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Specifies a directory to search to resolve file references passed to the #using directive | |
| Preserves comments during preprocessing | |
| Defines constants and macros | |
| Copies preprocessor output to standard output | |
| Copies preprocessor output to standard output | |
| Preprocesses the specified include file | |
| Forces the use of a file name, as if it had been passed to the #using directive | |
| Searches a directory for include files | |
| Writes preprocessor output to a file | |
| Removes a predefined macro | |
| Removes all predefined macros | |
| Ignores the standard include directory |
| Option | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Enables #pragma omp in source code. | |
| Suppresses or enables hidden vtordisp class members | |
| Uses best base for pointers to members | |
| Uses full generality for pointers to members | |
| Declares multiple inheritance | |
| Declares single inheritance | |
| Declares virtual inheritance | |
| Disables language extensions | |
| Specifies standard behavior under /Ze | |
| Enables language extensions | |
| Generates function prototypes | |
| Removes default library name from .obj file | |
| /Zp n | Packs structure members |
| Checks syntax only |
| Option | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Sets stack size | |
| Creates a dynamic-link library | |
| Creates a debug dynamic-link library | |
| Create an MSIL module. | |
| Passes the specified option to LINK | |
| Compiles to create a multithreaded DLL, using MSVCRT.lib | |
| Compiles to create a debug multithreaded DLL, using MSVCRTD.lib | |
| Compiles to create a multithreaded executable file, using LIBCMT.lib | |
| Compiles to create a debug multithreaded executable file, using LIBCMTD.lib |
| Option | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Ignores all other precompiled-header compiler options in the current build | |
| Creates a precompiled header file | |
| Places complete debugging information in all object files | |
| Uses a precompiled header file during build |
| Option | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Specifies a response file | |
| Lists the compiler options | |
| Enables code analysis. | |
| Compiles without linking | |
| Process documentation comments to an XML file. | |
| Allows you to provide internal compiler error (ICE) information directly to the Visual C++ team. | |
| Display full path of source code files passed to cl.exe in diagnostic text. | |
| Restricts the length of external (public) names | |
| Lists the compiler options | |
| Creates a hotpatchable image. | |
| Changes the default char type | |
| Suppresses display of sign-on banner | |
| Suppresses the call of the helper function _ftol when a conversion from a floating-point type to an integral type is required (x86 only) | |
| Does not generate sequences of instructions that give unexpected results, according to the errata for the B CPU stepping. (IPF only) | |
| Does not generate sequences of instructions that give unexpected results, according to the errata for the C CPU stepping. (IPF only) | |
| Do not use upper 96 floating-point registers. (IPF only) | |
| Generates an image with position dependent code (IPF only). | |
| Enhance performance for programs that do not create functions at runtime. (IPF only) | |
| Displays a list of all include files during compilation | |
| Specifies a C source file | |
| Specifies a C++ source file | |
| Sets the version string | |
| Sets warning level | |
| Disables all warnings | |
| Enables all warnings, including warnings that are disabled by default | |
| Enables one-line diagnostics for error and warning messages when compiling C++ source code from the command line | |
| Specifies the precompiled header memory allocation limit |
