Electronic – Difference between __I and __IO and __O in CMSIS core

ccmsisstm32

in core_cm4.h header file defined some thing like this:

#ifdef __cplusplus
  #define   __I     volatile             /*!< Defines 'read only' permissions                 */
#else
  #define   __I     volatile const       /*!< Defines 'read only' permissions                 */
#endif
#define     __O     volatile             /*!< Defines 'write only' permissions                */
#define     __IO    volatile             /*!< Defines 'read / write' permissions              */

What's the difference between __I , __O and __IO while they are defined in same way.

  • and how they work to specify "read/write only" while they are only defined as a volatile variable ?!

Best Answer

I means Input O means Output IO means Input and Output

As Long Pham notes, it is a naming convention, but also it is normal to use meanings to a type. Like an integer can be a counter, a timestamp, a date etc.

There are some reasons to use this:

  • It is good for readability
  • Whenever in future the type of an I, O or IO would change, (user) source code using I, O and IO does not need to be changed, only the type definitions / defines itself.
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