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From: jeffg@tekcbi.UUCP (Jeff Glover)
Newsgroups: net.unix-wizards
Subject: What is the origin of the prepended underscore?
Message-ID: <347@tekcbi.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 4-Sep-85 13:06:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekcbi.347
Posted: Wed Sep  4 13:06:33 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 5-Sep-85 10:11:53 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 11

Why is an underscore commonly prepended to symbols generated by most C
compilers?  Is it archaic, or is there a good reason?  I know library
writers sometimes manually prepend an underscore to hide functions from
casual users, but that is not what I am referring to.

I was asked this question, and was unable to find a satisfactory answer.

Please mail your replies, and I'll summarize for the net.
--
Jeff C. Glover, Tektronix, Inc. PO Box 500, MS Y6-546, Beaverton, OR 97077
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