description	Learn more about the check_stack pragma directive in Microsoft C/C++
title	check_stack pragma
ms.date	01/22/2021
f1_keywords	vc-pragma.check_stack check_stack_CPP
helpviewer_keywords	check_stack pragma pragma, check_stack pragma, check_stack usage table
no-loc	pragma

check_stack pragma

Instructs the compiler to turn off stack probes if off (or -) is specified, or to turn on stack probes if on (or +) is specified.

Syntax

#pragma check_stack( [{ on | off }] )
#pragma check_stack { + | - }

Remarks

This pragma takes effect at the first function defined after the pragma is seen. Stack probes are neither a part of macros nor of functions that are generated inline.

If you don't give an argument for the check_stack pragma, stack checking reverts to the behavior specified on the command line. For more information, see Compiler options. The interaction of the #pragma check_stack and the /Gs option is summarized in the following table.

Using the check_stack Pragma

Syntax	Compiled with /Gs option?	Action
#pragma check_stack( ) or #pragma check_stack	Yes	Turns off stack checking for functions that follow
#pragma check_stack( ) or #pragma check_stack	No	Turns on stack checking for functions that follow
#pragma check_stack(on) or #pragma check_stack +	Yes or No	Turns on stack checking for functions that follow
#pragma check_stack(off) or #pragma check_stack -	Yes or No	Turns off stack checking for functions that follow

See also

Pragma directives and the __pragma and _Pragma keywords