CMakePushCheckState — CMake 4.2.6 Documentation

# CMakePushCheckState

This module provides commands for managing the state of variables that influence how various CMake check commands (e.g., `check_symbol_exists()`, etc.) are performed.

Load this module in a CMake project with:

    include(CMakePushCheckState)

This module provides the following commands, which are useful for scoped configuration, for example, in CMake modules or when performing checks in a controlled environment, ensuring that temporary modifications are isolated to the scope of the check and do not propagate into other parts of the build system:

- `cmake_push_check_state()`

- `cmake_reset_check_state()`

- `cmake_pop_check_state()`

## Affected Variables

The following CMake variables are saved, reset, and restored by this module's commands:

`CMAKE_REQUIRED_FLAGS`

  A space-separated string of additional flags to pass to the compiler. A semicolon-separated list will not work. The contents of `CMAKE_<LANG>_FLAGS` and its associated configuration-specific `CMAKE_<LANG>_FLAGS_<CONFIG>` variables are automatically prepended to the compiler command before the contents of this variable.

`CMAKE_REQUIRED_DEFINITIONS`

  A semicolon-separated list of compiler definitions, each of the form `-DFOO` or `-DFOO=bar`. A definition for the name specified by the result variable argument of the check command is also added automatically.

`CMAKE_REQUIRED_INCLUDES`

  A semicolon-separated list of header search paths to pass to the compiler. These will be the only header search paths used; the contents of the `INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES` directory property will be ignored.

`CMAKE_REQUIRED_LINK_OPTIONS`

  Added in version 3.14.

  A semicolon-separated list of options to add to the link command (see `try_compile()` for further details).

`CMAKE_REQUIRED_LIBRARIES`

  A semicolon-separated list of libraries to add to the link command. These can be the names of system libraries, or they can be Imported Targets (see `try_compile()` for further details).

`CMAKE_REQUIRED_LINK_DIRECTORIES`

  Added in version 3.31.

  A semicolon-separated list of library search paths to pass to the linker (see `try_compile()` for further details).

`CMAKE_REQUIRED_QUIET`

  Added in version 3.1.

  If this variable evaluates to a boolean true value, all status messages associated with the check will be suppressed.

`CMAKE_EXTRA_INCLUDE_FILES`

  Added in version 3.6: Previously used already by the `check_type_size()` command; now also supported by this module.

  A semicolon-separated list of extra header files to include when performing the check.

Note

Other CMake variables, such as `CMAKE_<LANG>_FLAGS`, propagate to all checks regardless of commands provided by this module, as those fundamental variables are designed to influence the global state of the build system.

## Commands

cmake_push_check_state

  Pushes (saves) the current states of the above variables onto a stack:

      cmake_push_check_state([RESET])

  Use this command to preserve the current configuration before making temporary modifications for specific checks.

  `RESET`

    When this option is specified, the command not only saves the current states of the listed variables but also resets them to empty, allowing them to be reconfigured from a clean state.

cmake_reset_check_state

  Resets (clears) the contents of the variables listed above to empty states:

      cmake_reset_check_state()

  Use this command when performing multiple sequential checks that require entirely new configurations, ensuring no previous configuration unintentionally carries over.

cmake_pop_check_state

  Restores the states of the variables listed above to their values at the time of the most recent `cmake_push_check_state()` call:

      cmake_pop_check_state()

  Use this command to revert temporary changes made during a check. To prevent unexpected behavior, pair each `cmake_push_check_state()` with a corresponding `cmake_pop_check_state()`.

## Examples

### Example: Isolated Check With Compile Definitions

In the following example, a check for the C symbol `memfd_create()` is performed with an additional `_GNU_SOURCE` compile definition, without affecting global compile flags. The `RESET` option is used to ensure that any prior values of the check-related variables are explicitly cleared before the check.

    include(CMakePushCheckState)

    # Save and reset the current state
    cmake_push_check_state(RESET)

    # Perform check with specific compile definitions
    set(CMAKE_REQUIRED_DEFINITIONS -D_GNU_SOURCE)
    include(CheckSymbolExists)
    check_symbol_exists(memfd_create "sys/mman.h" HAVE_MEMFD_CREATE)

    # Restore the original state
    cmake_pop_check_state()

### Example: Nested Configuration Scopes

In the following example, variable states are pushed onto the stack multiple times, allowing for sequential or nested checks. Each `cmake_pop_check_state()` restores the most recent pushed states.

    include(CMakePushCheckState)

    # Save and reset the current state
    cmake_push_check_state(RESET)

    # Perform the first check with additional libraries
    set(CMAKE_REQUIRED_LIBRARIES ${CMAKE_DL_LIBS})
    include(CheckSymbolExists)
    check_symbol_exists(dlopen "dlfcn.h" HAVE_DLOPEN)

    # Save current state
    cmake_push_check_state()

    # Perform the second check with libraries and additional compile definitions
    set(CMAKE_REQUIRED_DEFINITIONS -D_GNU_SOURCE)
    check_symbol_exists(dladdr "dlfcn.h" HAVE_DLADDR)

    message(STATUS "${CMAKE_REQUIRED_DEFINITIONS}")
    # Output: -D_GNU_SOURCE

    # Restore the previous state
    cmake_pop_check_state()

    message(STATUS "${CMAKE_REQUIRED_DEFINITIONS}")
    # Output here is empty

    # Reset variables to prepare for the next check
    cmake_reset_check_state()

    # Perform the next check only with additional compile definitions
    set(CMAKE_REQUIRED_DEFINITIONS -D_GNU_SOURCE)
    check_symbol_exists(dl_iterate_phdr "link.h" HAVE_DL_ITERATE_PHDR)

    # Restore the original state
    cmake_pop_check_state()