# fmerge-debug-strings

Causes the compiler to pool strings used in debugging information.

## Syntax

Linux: | -fmerge-debug-strings -fno-merge-debug-strings

macOS: | None

Windows: | None

## Arguments

None

## Default

-fmerge-debug-strings | The compiler will pool strings used in debugging information.

## Description

This option causes the compiler to pool strings used in debugging information. The linker will automatically retain this pooling.

This option can reduce the size of debug information, but it may produce slightly slower compile and link times.

This option is only turned on by default if you are using gcc 4.3 or higher, where this setting is also the default, since the generated debug tables require binutils version 2.17 or higher to work reliably.

If you do not want the compiler to pool strings used in debugging information, specify option -fno-merge-debug-strings.

## IDE Equivalent

None

## Alternate Options

None

Parent topic: Output, Debug, and Precompiled Header Options