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Compiler Options Listed Alphabetically

 

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The latest version of this topic can be found at Compiler Options Listed Alphabetically.

The following is a comprehensive alphabetical list of compiler options. For a categorical list, see the Compiler Options Listed by Category.

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.
/analyze Enable code analysis.
/arch Specifies the architecture for code generation.
/bigobj Increases the number of addressable sections in an .obj file.
/C Preserves comments during preprocessing.
/c Compiles without linking.
/cgthreads Specifies number of cl.exe threads to use for optimization and code generation.
/clr Produces an output file to run on the common language runtime.
/D Defines constants and macros.
/doc Process documentation comments to an XML file.
/E Copies preprocessor output to standard output.
/EH Specifies the model of exception handling.
/EP Copies preprocessor output to standard output.
/errorReport Allows you to provide internal compiler error (ICE) information directly to the Visual C++ team.
/F Sets stack size.
/favor 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.
/FA Creates a listing file.
/Fa Sets the listing file name.
/FC Display full path of source code files passed to cl.exe in diagnostic text.
/Fd Renames program database file.
/Fe Renames the executable file.
/FI Preprocesses the specified include file.
/Fi Sets the preprocessed output file name.
/Fm Creates a mapfile.
/Fo Creates an object file.
/fp Specify floating-point behavior.
/Fp Specifies a precompiled header file name.
/FR

 /Fr
Generates browser files. /Fr is deprecated.
/FS Forces writes to the program database (PDB) file to be serialized through MSPDBSRV.EXE.
/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.
/GA Optimizes code for Windows application.
/Gd Uses the __cdecl calling convention (x86 only).
/Ge Deprecated. Activates stack probes.
/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 (x86 only).
/GS Buffers security check.
/Gs Controls stack probes.
/GT Supports fiber safety for data allocated using static thread-local storage.
/guard:cf Adds control flow guard security checks.
/Gv Uses the __vectorcall calling convention. (x86 and x64 only)
/Gw Enables whole-program global data optimization.
/GX Deprecated. Enables synchronous exception handling. Use /EH instead.
/Gy Enables function-level linking.
/GZ Deprecated. Same as /RTC1.
/Gz Uses the __stdcall calling convention (x86 only).
/H Deprecated. Restricts the length of external (public) names.
/HELP Lists the compiler options.
/homeparams 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).
/hotpatch Creates a hotpatchable image.
/I Searches a directory for include files.
/J Changes the default char type.
/kernel The compiler and linker will create a binary that can be executed in the Windows kernel.
/LD Creates a dynamic-link library.
/LDd Creates a debug dynamic-link library.
/link Passes the specified option to LINK.
/LN Creates an MSIL module.
/MD Creates a multithreaded DLL using MSVCRT.lib.
/MDd Creates a debug multithreaded DLL using MSVCRTD.lib.
/MP Compiles multiple source files by using multiple processes.
/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.
/Ob Controls inline expansion.
/Od Disables optimization.
/Og Deprecated. Uses global optimizations.
/Oi Generates intrinsic functions.
/openmp Enables #pragma omp in source code.
/Os Favors small code.
/Ot Favors fast code.
/Ox Uses maximum optimization (/Ob2gity /Gs).
/Oy Omits frame pointer (x86 only).
/P Writes preprocessor output to a file.
/Qfast_transcendentals Generates fast transcendentals.
/QIfist Deprecated. Suppresses _ftol when a conversion from a floating-point type to an integral type is required (x86 only).
/Qimprecise_fwaits Removes fwait commands inside try blocks.
/Qpar (Auto-Parallelizer) Enables automatic parallelization of loops that are marked with the #pragma loop() directive.
/Qsafe_fp_loads Uses integer move instructions for floating-point values and disables certain floating point load optimizations.
/Qvec-report (Auto-Vectorizer Reporting Level) Enables reporting levels for automatic vectorization.
/RTC Enables run-time error checking.
/sdl Enables additional security features and warnings.
/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 Deprecated. Sets the .obj file 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.
/volatile Selects how the volatile keyword is interpreted.
/w Disables all warnings.
/W0, /W1, /W2, /W3, /W4 Sets which warning level to output.
/w1, /w2, /w3, /w4 Sets the warning level for the specified warning.
/Wall Enables all warnings, including warnings that are disabled by default.
/wd Disables the specified warning.
/we Treats the specified warning as an error.
/WL Enables one-line diagnostics for error and warning messages when compiling C++ source code from the command line.
/wo Displays the specified warning only once.
/Wp64 Obsolete. Detects 64-bit portability problems.
/Wv Displays no warnings introduced after the specified version of the compiler.
/WX Treats all warnings as errors.
/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 Deprecated. Places complete debugging information in all object files. Use /Zi instead.
/Yl Injects a PCH reference when creating a debug library
/Yu Uses a precompiled header file during build.
/Z7 Generates C 7.0–compatible debugging information.
/Za Disables language extensions.
/Zc Specifies standard behavior under /Ze./Za, /Ze (Disable Language Extensions)
/Ze Deprecated. Enables language extensions.
/Zg Removed in Visual C++ 2015. 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 (x86 only).
/Zm Specifies the precompiled header memory allocation limit.
/Zp Packs structure members.
/Zs Checks syntax only.
/ZW Produces an output file to run on the Windows Runtime.

See Also

C/C++ Building Reference
Compiler Options
Setting Compiler Options