osx man page for assert

ASSERT(3)						   BSD Library Functions Manual 						 ASSERT(3)

NAME
     assert -- expression verification macro

SYNOPSIS
     #include <assert.h>

     assert(expression);

DESCRIPTION
     The assert() macro tests the given expression and if it is false, the calling process is terminated.  A diagnostic message is written to
     stderr and the abort(3) function is called, effectively terminating the program.

     If expression is true, the assert() macro does nothing.

     The assert() macro may be removed at compile time with the cc(1) option -DNDEBUG.

DIAGNOSTICS
     The following diagnostic message is written to stderr if expression is false:

	   "assertion "%s" failed: file "%s", line %d
", 
			       "expression", __FILE__, __LINE__);

SEE ALSO
     cc(1), abort(3)

STANDARDS
     The assert() macro conforms to ANSI X3.159-1989 (``ANSI C89'').

HISTORY
     A assert macro appeared in Version 6 AT&T UNIX.

BSD
								   June 9, 1993 							       BSD