C weak symbols

C weak symbols are linker-level symbols that can be overridden. Declare a function or variable __attribute__((weak)) (GCC/Clang) to allow another compilation unit to provide a strong override. Useful for plugin systems, default implementations, or optional features.

Use weak symbols to provide default implementations that users can override at link time.

// compile: gcc -o weak weak.c default.c plugin.c
// run: ./weak
// description: weak symbols for overridable functions
 
// weak.c (main program)
#include <stdio.h>
 
// Declare as weak - can be overridden
void custom_handler(void) __attribute__((weak));
 
void custom_handler(void) {
    printf("Default handler\n");
}
 
int main() {
    custom_handler();
    return 0;
}
 
// default.c (default implementation)
void default_func(void) {
    printf("Default implementation\n");
}
 
// plugin.c (override)
#include <stdio.h>
 
void custom_handler(void) {
    printf("Plugin override handler\n");
}

Weak function:

• Default implementation with __attribute__((weak))
• Other code can provide strong implementation
• Linker uses strong if present, otherwise weak

Weak variable:

• int global __attribute__((weak)) = 0;
• Can be overridden by strong definition elsewhere
• Useful for feature flags

Plugin systems:

• Plugin provides strong symbol
• Main program calls weak function
• Linker pulls in appropriate implementation

Portability:

• GCC/Clang support __attribute__((weak))
• MSVC: #pragma weak (different syntax)
• Portable across Unix-like systems

Limitations:

• Weak symbols are linker-level only
• Only works with static/dynamic linking
• Behavior undefined if multiple weaks
• Symbols must have same type

Best practices:

• Document which symbols are weak
• Provide clear default behavior
• Don't change weak interface arbitrarily