What\'s the Best Order for Including Header Files in C/C ?

C/C Include Header File Order

The order in which include files are specified in your code can affect the compilation process. Headers may depend on others being included first, leading to compilation errors if they are not included in the correct order.

Local and Standard Includes

General guidelines suggest including local include files first, followed by standard headers. Local includes are those specific to your project, while standard headers are part of the C/C library. This order helps ensure that local headers have access to the definitions and declarations provided by the standard headers.

Example Order

Consider the following example order:

1. Header file corresponding to the current CPP file (if applicable)
2. Headers from the same component
3. Headers from other components
4. System headers

This order aligns with the principle of moving from local to global, with each subsection arranged alphabetically within its category.

Rationale

Including local headers first demonstrates that each header can be included without any prerequisites, ensuring self-containment. The subsequent order ensures that headers from the same component are included before headers from other components, and system headers are included last.

Exceptions

Sometimes, specific headers may require other headers to be included before them to resolve dependencies. In such cases, the vendor documentation for the header or library will typically provide the necessary information. It is important to consult the documentation to avoid compilation issues.

Remember, maintaining a consistent include order and following the general guidelines can help improve code maintainability and prevent compilation errors due to missing or out-of-order header inclusions.

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