| Option | Purpose |
| @ | Specifies a response file |
| /? | Lists the compiler options |
| /AI | Specifies a directory to search to resolve file references passed to the #using directive |
| /arch | Use SSE or SSE2 instructions in code generation |
| /C | Preserves comments during preprocessing |
| /c | Compiles without linking |
| /clr | Enables Managed Extensions for C++ and produces an output file to run on the common language runtime |
| /D | Defines constants and macros |
| /E | Copies preprocessor output to standard output |
| /EH | Specifies the model of exception handling |
| /EP | Copies preprocessor output to standard output |
| /F | Sets stack size |
| /FA | Creates a listing file |
| /Fa | Sets listing file name |
| /Fd | Renames program database file |
| /Fe | Renames the executable file |
| /FI | Preprocesses the specified include file |
| /Fm | Creates a mapfile |
| /Fo | Creates an object file |
| /Fp | Specifies a precompiled header file name |
/FR
/Fr | Generates browser files |
| /FU | Forces the use of a file name as if it had been passed to the #using directive |
| /Fx | Merges injected code with source file |
| /G3 | Optimizes code to favor the 386 processor. Phased out in Visual C++ 5.0, the compiler will ignore this option |
| /G4 | Optimizes code to favor the 486 processor. Phased out in Visual C++ 5.0, the compiler will ignore this option |
| /G5 | Optimizes code to favor the Pentium processor |
| /G6 | Optimizes code to favor the Pentium Pro, Pentium II, and Pentium III processors |
| /G7 | Optimizes code to favor the Pentium 4 or Athlon. |
| /GA | Optimizes code for Windows application |
| /GB | Equivalent to /G6; sets the value of _M_IX86 to 600 |
| /Gd | Uses the __cdecl calling convention |
| /Ge | Activates stack probes |
/GF
/Gf | Enables string pooling |
| /GH | Calls hook function _pexit |
| /Gh | Calls hook function _penter |
| /GL | Enables whole program optimization |
| /Gm | Enables minimal rebuild |
| /GR | Enables run-time type information (RTTI) |
| /Gr | Uses the __fastcall calling convention |
| /GS | Buffers security check |
| /Gs | Controls stack probes |
| /GT | Supports fiber safety for data allocated using static thread-local storage |
| /GX | Enables synchronous exception handling |
| /Gy | Enables function-level linking |
| /GZ | Same as /RTC1 |
| /Gz | Uses the __stdcall calling convention |
| /H | Restricts the length of external (public) names |
| /HELP | Lists the compiler options |
| /I | Searches a directory for include files |
| /J | Changes the default char type |
| /LD | Creates a dynamic-link library |
| /LDd | Creates a debug dynamic-link library |
| /link | Passes the specified option to LINK |
| /MD | Creates a multithreaded DLL using MSVCRT.lib |
| /MDd | Creates a debug multithreaded DLL using MSVCRTD.lib |
| /ML | Creates a single-threaded executable file using LIBC.lib |
| /MLd | Creates a debug single-threaded executable file using LIBCD.lib |
| /MT | Creates a multithreaded executable file using LIBCMT.lib |
| /MTd | Creates a debug multithreaded executable file using LIBCMTD.lib |
| /nologo | Suppresses display of sign-on banner |
| /O1 | Creates small code |
| /O2 | Creates fast code |
| /Oa | Assumes no aliasing |
| /Ob | Controls inline expansion |
| /Od | Disables optimization |
| /Og | Uses global optimizations |
| /Oi | Generates intrinsic functions |
| /Op | Improves floating-point consistency |
| /Os | Favors small code |
| /Ot | Favors fast code |
| /Ow | Assumes aliasing across function calls |
| /Ox | Uses maximum optimization (/Ob2gity /Gs) |
| /Oy | Omits frame pointer |
| /QI0f | Performs Pentium 0x0f erratum fix |
| /QIfdiv | Performs Pentium FDIV erratum fix |
| /QIfist | Suppresses _ftol when a conversion from a floating-point type to an integral type is required |
| /P | Writes preprocessor output to a file |
| /RTC | Enables run-time error checking |
| /showIncludes | Displays a list of include files during compilation |
/Tc
/TC | Specifies a C source file |
/Tp
/TP | Specifies a C++ source file |
| /U | Removes a predefined macro |
| /u | Removes all predefined macros |
| /V | Sets the version string |
| /vd | Suppresses or enables hidden vtordisp class members |
| /vmb | Uses best base for pointers to members |
| /vmg | Uses full generality for pointers to members |
| /vmm | Declares multiple inheritance |
| /vms | Declares single inheritance |
| /vmv | Declares virtual inheritance |
| /W | Sets warning level |
| /w | Disables all warnings |
| /Wall | Enables all warnings, including warnings that are disabled by default |
| /WL | Enables one-line diagnostics for error and warning messages when compiling C++ source code from the command line |
| /Wp64 | Detects 64-bit portability problems |
| /X | Ignores the standard include directory |
| /Y- | Ignores all other precompiled-header compiler options in the current build |
| /Yc | Creates a precompiled header file |
| /Yd | Places complete debugging information in all object files |
| /Yl | Injects a PCH reference when creating a debug library |
| /Yu | Uses a precompiled header file during build |
| /YX | Automates precompiled header |
| /Z7 | Generates C 7.0–compatible debugging information |
| /Za | Disables language extensions |
| /Zc | Specifies standard behavior under /Ze |
| /Zd | Generates line numbers |
| /Ze | Enables language extensions |
| /Zg | Generates function prototypes |
| /ZI | Includes debug information in a program database compatible with Edit and Continue |
| /Zi | Generates complete debugging information |
| /Zl | Removes default library name from .obj file |
| /Zm | Specifies the precompiled header memory allocation limit |
| /Zp | Packs structure members |
| /Zs | Checks syntax only |