CMake/Help/command/target_compile_options.rst

target_compile_options
----------------------

Add compile options to a target.

.. code-block:: cmake

  target_compile_options(<target> [BEFORE]
    <INTERFACE|PUBLIC|PRIVATE> [items1...]
    [<INTERFACE|PUBLIC|PRIVATE> [items2...] ...])

Adds options to the :prop_tgt:`COMPILE_OPTIONS` or
:prop_tgt:`INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS` target properties. These options
are used when compiling the given ``<target>``, which must have been
created by a command such as :command:`add_executable` or
:command:`add_library` and must not be an :ref:`ALIAS target <Alias Targets>`.

Arguments
^^^^^^^^^

If ``BEFORE`` is specified, the content will be prepended to the property
instead of being appended.

The ``INTERFACE``, ``PUBLIC`` and ``PRIVATE`` keywords are required to
specify the scope of the following arguments.  ``PRIVATE`` and ``PUBLIC``
items will populate the :prop_tgt:`COMPILE_OPTIONS` property of
``<target>``.  ``PUBLIC`` and ``INTERFACE`` items will populate the
:prop_tgt:`INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS` property of ``<target>``.
The following arguments specify compile options.  Repeated calls for the same
``<target>`` append items in the order called.

.. versionadded:: 3.11
  Allow setting ``INTERFACE`` items on :ref:`IMPORTED targets <Imported Targets>`.

Arguments to ``target_compile_options`` may use "generator expressions"
with the syntax ``$<...>``. See the :manual:`cmake-generator-expressions(7)`
manual for available expressions.  See the :manual:`cmake-buildsystem(7)`
manual for more on defining buildsystem properties.

.. include:: OPTIONS_SHELL.txt

See Also
^^^^^^^^

This command can be used to add any options. However, for adding
preprocessor definitions and include directories it is recommended
to use the more specific commands :command:`target_compile_definitions`
and :command:`target_include_directories`.

For directory-wide settings, there is the command :command:`add_compile_options`.

For file-specific settings, there is the source file property :prop_sf:`COMPILE_OPTIONS`.