# GCC Compiler

**g++** command is a GNU c++ compiler invocation command, which is used for preprocessing, compilation, assembly and linking of source code to generate an executable file. The different “options” of g++ command allow us to stop this process at the intermediate stage. <br>

* **Check g++ compiler version information:**<br>

```
g++ --version
```

![](https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/wp-content/uploads/version-1.jpg)

* **Compile a CPP file to generate executable target file:** *g++ file\_name* command is used to compile and create an executable file *a.out* (default target name).\
  **Example:** Given a simple program to print “Hello Geek” on standard output with file name *hello.cpp*

```cpp
#include <iostream>
int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello Geek\n"``;
    return 0;
}
```

```
g++ hello.cpp
```

![](https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/wp-content/uploads/compile_d.jpg)

This compiles and links *hello.cpp* to produce a default target executable file *a.out* in present working directory. To run this program, type **./a.out** where **./** represents present working directory and **a.out** is the executable target file.<br>

```
./a.out
```

![](https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/wp-content/uploads/out_d.jpg)

* **g++ -S file\_name** is used to only compile the **file\_name** and **not** assembling or linking. It will generate a **file\_name.s** assembly source file.\
  **Example:**<br>

```
g++ -S hello.cpp
```

* **g++ -c file\_name** is used to only compile and assemble the **file\_name** and **not** link the object code to produce executable file. It will generate a **file\_name.o** object code file in present working directory.\
  **Example:**<br>

```
g++ -c hello.cpp
```

* **g++ -o target\_name file\_name:** Compiles and links **file\_name** and generates executable target file with **target\_name** (or a.out by default).\
  **Example:**<br>

```
g++ -o main.exe hello.cpp
```

![](https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/wp-content/uploads/de-o.jpg)

* **Compile and link multiple files:** When the *-c* flag is used, it invokes the compiler stage which translates source code to object code. When the -o flag is used it links object code to create the executable file from **file\_name.o** to **a.out(default)**, multiples files may be passed together as arguments.<br>

**Example:**

```cpp
// hello.cpp
#include "helloWorld.h"
#include <iostream>
int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello Geek\n"``;
    helloWorld();
    return 0;
}
```

```cpp
// helloWorld.cpp
#include <iostream>
void helloWorld() {
    std::cout << "Hello World\n"``;
}
```

```
g++ -c helloWorld.cpp hello.cpp
```

* It compiles and creates object code for the files helloWorld.cpp and hello.cpp to helloWorld.o and hello.o respectively.<br>

```
g++ -o main.exe helloWorld.o hello.o
```

* It links the object codes helloWorld.o and hello.o to create an executable file main.exe<br>

```
./main.exe
```

* It runs the executable file `main.exe`

![](/files/fqWubhkK2RmEBm2iPguw)


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://algo.aspires.cc/the-c++-programming-language/gcc-compiler.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.