[Rust Guide] 19.4 Macros

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Learn about Rust macros, including declarative and procedural macros, and how to use them in your code

intermediate Published 21 Jul 2026

Action Steps

Define a declarative macro using `macro_rules!` to generate code at compile time
Create a procedural macro using a derive macro, attribute-like macro, or function-like macro to extend the language
Use the `macro` keyword to invoke a macro and generate code
Test and debug your macros using the Rust compiler and debugging tools
Apply macros to real-world problems, such as code generation and metaprogramming

Who Needs to Know This

Software engineers and developers working with Rust can benefit from understanding macros to write more efficient and effective code

Key Insight

💡 Macros in Rust allow for code generation and metaprogramming, making it a powerful feature for efficient coding

Key Takeaways

Learn about Rust macros, including declarative and procedural macros, and how to use them in your code

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Title: [Rust Guide] 19.4 Macros

URL Source: https://dev.to/someb1oody/rust-guide-194-macros-3nb8

Published Time: 2026-07-21T19:41:56Z

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Posted on Jul 21 • Originally published at [someb1oody.github.io](https://someb1oody.github.io/RustGuide/en/Chapter-19/19.4/19.4._Macros.html)

# [Rust Guide] 19.4 Macros

[#rust](https://dev.to/t/rust)[#programming](https://dev.to/t/programming)[#learning](https://dev.to/t/learning)

## [](https://dev.to/someb1oody/rust-guide-194-macros-3nb8#1941-what-are-macros) 19.4.1 What Are Macros

In Rust, _macro_ is a collective name for a group of related features:

* Declarative macros built with `macro_rules!`
* Three kinds of procedural macros:
* Derive macros, used on `struct` or `enum`, which let you specify code added through the `derive` attribute
* Attribute-like macros, which add custom attributes to any item
* Function-like macros, which look like function calls and operat

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[Rust Guide] 19.4 Macros

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