Getting Started with Julia

Defining macros

In the previous chapters, we already used macros, such as @printf in Chapter 2, Variables, Types, and Operations, and @time in Chapter 3, Functions. Macros are like functions, but instead of values, they take expressions (which can also be symbols or literals) as input arguments. When a macro is evaluated, the input expression is expanded, that is, the macro returns a modified expression. This expansion occurs at parse time when the syntax tree is being built, not when the code is actually executed.

The following highlights the difference between macros and functions when they are called or invoked:

• Function: It takes the input values and returns the computed values at runtime
• Macro: It takes the input expressions and returns the ...