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What is the difference between macro and template?

macro | template |

As nouns the difference between macro and template

is that macro is a comparatively human-friendly abbreviation of complicated input to a computer program while template is a physical object whose shape is used as a guide to make other objects.

As an adjective macro

is very large in scope or scale.

As a verb template is

to set up or mark off using a template.

macro

English

Etymology 1

1933, from .

Adjective

(-)
  • Very large in scope or scale.
  • Etymology 2

    1959, shortened form of macroinstruction.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (programming, computing) A comparatively human-friendly abbreviation of complicated input to a computer program.
  • The pre-processor expands any embedded macro s into source code before it is compiled.
    Usage notes
    * Often used attributively; a macro language'' is the syntax for defining new macros; while ''macro expansion'' refers to the task of replacing the human-friendly version with a machine-readable version; a ''macro virus'' is a computer virus written in a ''macro language''. Individual macros are sometimes referred to as ''macro function s, particularly when they accept parameters. * The distinction between a macro language'' and a ''programming language'' is imprecise. Often a ''macro language'' is designed to allow one to customize one particular program, whereas a ''programming language is designed for writing entirely new programs. * Although a shortcut'' is particularly easy to use, widely supported, and designed for normal users, ''macro system s are normally designed for power users.
    See also
    *

    See also

    * macro expansion * template

    Etymology 3

    1971, elliptical form of macro lens, from  + lens. Compare macrophotography.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (photography) macro lens
  • Anagrams

    * * ----

    template

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A physical object whose shape is used as a guide to make other objects.
  • A generic model or pattern from which other objects are based or derived.
  • (molecular biology) A macromolecule which provides a pattern for the synthesis of another molecule.
  • * {{quote-journal, 2002, S. Lottin et al., Thioredoxin post-transcriptional regulation by H19 provides a new function to mRNA-like non-coding RNA, Nature, volume=21, issue=10 citation
  • , passage=Classically, the functional product of coding genes is a protein whose synthesis is directed by an mRNA-template .}}

    See also

    * boilerplate * macro * stencil * cookie cutter *

    Verb

    (templat)
  • To set up or mark off using a .
  • * {{quote-book, 1994, Howard I. Chapelle, Boatbuilding citation
  • , passage=Only that part of the floor timber that bears on the planking and keel need be templated ;
  • To provide a template or pattern for.
  • * {{quote-journal, 2003, Yu Wang et al., Synthesis and characterization of a new layered gallium phosphate templated by cobalt complex, Journal of Solid State Chemistry, volume=170, issue=1, doi=10.1016/S0022-4596(02)00060-9
  • , passage=Metal phosphates that are templated by transition-metal complexes are rare.}}

    Derived terms

    * templater