# unroll/nounroll

Tells the compiler to unroll or not to unroll a counted loop.

## Syntax

#pragma unroll #pragma unroll(n) #pragma nounroll

## Arguments

n | The unrolling factor representing the number of times to unroll a loop; it must be an integer constant from 0 through 255.

## Description

The unroll[n] pragma tells the compiler how many times to unroll a counted loop.

The unroll pragma must precede the `for` statement for each `for` loop it affects. If n is specified, the optimizer unrolls the loop n times. If n is omitted or if it is outside the allowed range, the optimizer assigns the number of times to unroll the loop.

This pragma is supported only when option O3 is set. The unroll pragma overrides any setting of loop unrolling from the command line.

The pragma can be applied for the innermost loop nest as well as for the outer loop nest. If applied to outer loop nests, the current implementation supports complete outer loop unrolling. The loops inside the loop nest are either not unrolled at all or completely unrolled. The compiler generates correct code by comparing n and the loop count.

When unrolling a loop increases register pressure and code size it may be necessary to prevent unrolling of a loop. In such cases, use the nounroll pragma. The nounroll pragma instructs the compiler not to unroll a specified loop.

## Examples

Use the unroll pragma for innermost loop unrolling:

    void unroll(int a[], int b[], int c[], int d[]) {
      #pragma unroll(4)
      for (int i = 1; i < 100; i++) {
        b[i] = a[i] + 1;
        d[i] = c[i] + 1;
      }
    }

Use the unroll pragma for outer loop unrolling:

    int m = 0;
    int dir[4]= {1,2,3,4};
    int data[10];
    #pragma unroll (4)  // outer loop unrolling
      for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
         for (int j = dir[i]; data[j]==N ; j+=dir[i])
            m++;
      }

When you place the unroll pragma before the first `for` loop, it causes the compiler to unroll the outer loop completely. If an unroll pragma is placed before the inner `for` loop as well as before the outer `for` loop, the compiler ignores the inner `for` loop unroll pragma. If the unroll pragma is placed only for the innermost loop, the compiler unrolls the innermost loop according to some factor.

Parent topic: Intel-Specific Pragma Reference