# Extra Clang Tools 21.1.6 documentation

## clang-tidy - bugprone-macro-parentheses

# bugprone-macro-parentheses

Finds macros that can have unexpected behavior due to missing parentheses.

Macros are expanded by the preprocessor as-is. As a result, there can be unexpected behavior; operators may be evaluated in unexpected order and unary operators may become binary operators, etc.

When the replacement list has an expression, it is recommended to surround it with parentheses. This ensures that the macro result is evaluated completely before it is used.

It is also recommended to surround macro arguments in the replacement list with parentheses. This ensures that the argument value is calculated properly.

This check corresponds to the CERT C Coding Standard rule PRE20-C. Macro replacement lists should be parenthesized.