CMAKE_FIND_PACKAGE_PREFER_CONFIG — CMake 4.3.0 Documentation

# CMAKE_FIND_PACKAGE_PREFER_CONFIG

Added in version 3.15.

Tell `find_package()` to try "Config" mode before "Module" mode if no mode was specified.

The command `find_package()` operates without an explicit mode when the reduced signature is used without the `MODULE` option. In this case, by default, CMake first tries Module mode by searching for a `Find<pkg>.cmake` module. If it fails, CMake then searches for the package using Config mode.

Set `CMAKE_FIND_PACKAGE_PREFER_CONFIG` to `TRUE` to tell `find_package()` to first search using Config mode before falling back to Module mode.

This variable may be useful when a developer has compiled a custom version of a common library and wishes to link it to a dependent project. If this variable is set to `TRUE`, it would prevent a dependent project's call to `find_package()` from selecting the default library located by the system's `Find<pkg>.cmake` module before finding the developer's custom built library.

Once this variable is set, it is the responsibility of the exported `<pkg>Config.cmake` files to provide the same result variables as the `Find<pkg>.cmake` modules so that dependent projects can use them interchangeably.