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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-05-14T21:57:17+00:00

I’m coming from a place without macros (Java/Python/C#/Scala) so perhaps my perspective is distorted

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I’m coming from a place without macros (Java/Python/C#/Scala) so perhaps my perspective is distorted but…

Why are macros used in Cocoa? Two that spring to mind are NSLocalizedString and NSAssert (and STAssert). Would it be so hard / unsuitable to make them functions (which could be inlined)? I suppose I find them a little bizarre as an unnecessary throw-back to C (and yes, I am familiar with the pedigree of Obj-C).

Is it just something that was done back in the day or is there a specific reason?

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    In general it is preferable to avoid macros, but for functionality like that provided by NSAssert(), you can’t.

    If you look at the definition, you’ll see that it uses __LINE__, __FILE__, _cmd and self from the context it is used in. If it wasn’t a macro, it wouldn’t have access to that information.

    For NSLocalizedString however, i see no obvious reason.

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