A pragma is a text in the source code of the application that is enclosed in braces. Pragmas are used to insert special statements in the code, which the compiler can evaluate. This allows a pragma to influence the properties of one or more variables with respect to precompilation or compilation (code generation). Pragmas that the compiler does not recognize are passed over as a comment.

The statement string of a pragma can also extend over multiple lines.

For more details about the syntax, see the descriptions of the individual CODESYS pragmas.

There are different pragmas for different purposes (example: initialization of a variable, monitoring of a variable, adding a variable to the symbol configuration, forcing the display of messages during the compilation process, and behavior of a variable under certain conditions).