---
description: "Learn more about: Debug Class (C++/CLI)"
title: "Debug Class (C++/CLI)"
ms.date: "11/04/2016"
helpviewer_keywords: ["Trace class, Visual C++", ".NET Framework [C++], Debug class", "Debug class"]
ms.assetid: 076bd528-1b6f-4e8a-a372-eb5849cf969a
---
# Debug Class (C++/CLI)
When using in a Visual C++ application, the behavior does not change between a debug and a release build.
## Remarks
The behavior for is identical to the behavior for the Debug class, but is dependent on the symbol TRACE being defined. This means that you must `#ifdef` any Trace-related code to prevent debug behavior in a release build.
## Example: Always executes output statements
### Description
The following sample always executes the output statements, regardless of whether you compile with **/DDEBUG** or **/DTRACE**.
### Code
```cpp
// mcpp_debug_class.cpp
// compile with: /clr
#using
using namespace System::Diagnostics;
using namespace System;
int main() {
Trace::Listeners->Add( gcnew TextWriterTraceListener( Console::Out ) );
Trace::AutoFlush = true;
Trace::Indent();
Trace::WriteLine( "Entering Main" );
Console::WriteLine( "Hello World." );
Trace::WriteLine( "Exiting Main" );
Trace::Unindent();
Debug::WriteLine("test");
}
```
### Output
```Output
Entering Main
Hello World.
Exiting Main
test
```
## Example: Use #ifdef and #endif directives
### Description
To get the expected behavior (that is, no "test" output printed for a release build), you must use the `#ifdef` and `#endif` directives. The previous code sample is modified below to demonstrate this fix:
### Code
```cpp
// mcpp_debug_class2.cpp
// compile with: /clr
#using
using namespace System::Diagnostics;
using namespace System;
int main() {
Trace::Listeners->Add( gcnew TextWriterTraceListener( Console::Out ) );
Trace::AutoFlush = true;
Trace::Indent();
#ifdef TRACE // checks for a debug build
Trace::WriteLine( "Entering Main" );
Console::WriteLine( "Hello World." );
Trace::WriteLine( "Exiting Main" );
#endif
Trace::Unindent();
#ifdef DEBUG // checks for a debug build
Debug::WriteLine("test");
#endif //ends the conditional block
}
```
## See also
[.NET Programming with C++/CLI (Visual C++)](../dotnet/dotnet-programming-with-cpp-cli-visual-cpp.md)