For a C function that receives a variable number of arguments (declared with an ellipsis ...), should the function use va_arg() to sequentially extract each unnamed argument from the va_list after calling va_start()?

Introduction / Context:
Processing variadic parameters in C requires an explicit iteration mechanism. This question verifies that you know the standard workflow: va_start to initialize traversal, va_arg to read each value, and va_end to finish.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The function prototype includes at least one named parameter and then ... .
• stdarg.h macros are available: va_list, va_start, va_arg, va_end.
• Default argument promotions apply to the unnamed arguments.

Concept / Approach:
Calling va_start prepares a va_list to access the unnamed arguments. The only standard way to fetch each value is va_arg(list, type). There is no automatic extraction, and no reflection in C to discover argument types; the callee must know what types to request, often guided by a format string or a count parameter.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Initialize: va_list ap; va_start(ap, last_named_param).Loop: value = va_arg(ap, expected_promoted_type); process value.Repeat until your stopping condition (e.g., count reached or format parsed).Finish: va_end(ap).

Verification / Alternative check:
Compare printf and vprintf. The latter accepts a va_list created by another variadic function. Both ultimately use va_arg internally to traverse unnamed parameters.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“Incorrect” denies standard practice. Requiring stdio.h or 64-bit is irrelevant; stdarg.h is portable. “Extraction happens automatically” is false; va_arg is mandatory for reading values.

Common Pitfalls:
Requesting the wrong type from va_arg, forgetting default promotions (float → double), or skipping va_end.

Final Answer:
Correct