# and ## in macros

Question

  #include <stdio.h>
  #define f(a,b) a##b
  #define g(a)   #a
  #define h(a) g(a)

  int main()
  {
    printf("%s\n",h(f(1,2)));
    printf("%s\n",g(f(1,2)));
    return 0;
  }

Just by looking at the program one "might" expect the output to be, the same for both the printf statements. But on running the program you get it as:

bash$ ./a.out
12
f(1,2)
bash$

Why is it so?

Answer 1

An occurrence of a parameter in a function-like macro, unless it is the operand of # or ##, is expanded before substituting it and rescanning the whole for further expansion. Because g's parameter is the operand of #, the argument is not expanded but instead immediately stringified ("f(1,2)"). Because h's parameter is not the operand of # nor ##, the argument is first expanded (12), then substituted (g(12)), then rescanning and further expansion occurs ("12").