unfold ==>
inline
<programming> (Or "unfold") To replace a function call with an instance
of the function's body. Actual argument expressions are substituted for formal
parameters as in beta reduction. Inlining is usually done as a compile-time
transformation.
If done recklessly (e.g. attempting to inline a recursive function) the compiler
will fail to terminate. If done over-enthusiastically the code size may increase
exponentially, e.g. if function f calls g twice, and g calls h twice and h is
inlined in g which is inlined in f (in either order) then there will be four
copies of h's body in f.
See also linear argument, unfold/fold.
(1994-11-03)
Nearby terms:
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