c++ linker , how to link the iostream file?

Question

I have a file named main.cpp which includes iostream.

I compiled main.cpp and it worked without errors, so my question is: I compiled main.cpp and I did not link iostream with main.cpp, so how could this be possible? Or did the compiler linked the iostream automatically?

Answer 1

The functions in iostream are part of the C++ standard library, which you usually don't need to link explicitly.

If you use a compiler that's not strictly a C++ compiler, you sometimes need to add something like -lstdc++ (at least, I do if I use gcc rather than g++).