Although C inherently does not have any technique to allocate memory dynamically, there
are 4 library functions defined under <stdlib.h> for dynamic memory allocation.
Function Use of Function
malloc() Allocates requested size of bytes and returns a pointer first byte of allocated space
Allocates space for an array elements, initializes to zero and then returns a pointer
calloc()
to memory
free() deallocate the previously allocated space
realloc() Change the size of previously allocated space
C malloc()
The name malloc stands for "memory allocation".
The function malloc() reserves a block of memory of specified size and return a pointer of
type void which can be casted into pointer of any form.
Syntax of malloc()
ptr = (cast-type*) malloc(byte-size)
Here, ptr is pointer of cast-type. The malloc() function returns a pointer to an area of
memory with size of byte size. If the space is insufficient, allocation fails and returns NULL
pointer.
ptr = (int*) malloc(100 * sizeof(int));
This statement will allocate either 200 or 400 according to size of int 2 or 4 bytes
respectively and the pointer points to the address of first byte of memory.
C calloc()
The name calloc stands for "contiguous allocation".
The only difference between malloc() and calloc() is that, malloc() allocates single block of
memory whereas calloc() allocates multiple blocks of memory each of same size and sets all
bytes to zero.
Syntax of calloc()
ptr = (cast-type*)calloc(n, element-size);
This statement will allocate contiguous space in memory for an array of n elements. For
example:
ptr = (float*) calloc(25, sizeof(float));
This statement allocates contiguous space in memory for an array of 25 elements each of size
of float, i.e, 4 bytes.
C free()
Dynamically allocated memory created with either calloc() or malloc() doesn't get freed on its
own. You must explicitly use free() to release the space.
syntax of free()
free(ptr);
This statement frees the space allocated in the memory pointed by ptr.
Example #1: Using C malloc() and free()
Write a C program to find sum of n elements entered by user. To perform this program,
allocate memory dynamically using malloc() function.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int main()
{
int num, i, *ptr, sum = 0;
printf("Enter number of elements: ");
scanf("%d", &num);
ptr = (int*) malloc(num * sizeof(int)); //memory allocated using
malloc
if(ptr == NULL)
{
printf("Error! memory not allocated.");
exit(0);
}
printf("Enter elements of array: ");
for(i = 0; i < num; ++i)
{
scanf("%d", ptr + i);
sum += *(ptr + i);
}
printf("Sum = %d", sum);
free(ptr);
return 0;
}
Example #2: Using C calloc() and free()
Write a C program to find sum of n elements entered by user. To perform this program,
allocate memory dynamically using calloc() function.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int main()
{
int num, i, *ptr, sum = 0;
printf("Enter number of elements: ");
scanf("%d", &num);
ptr = (int*) calloc(num, sizeof(int));
if(ptr == NULL)
{
printf("Error! memory not allocated.");
exit(0);
}
printf("Enter elements of array: ");
for(i = 0; i < num; ++i)
{
scanf("%d", ptr + i);
sum += *(ptr + i);
}
printf("Sum = %d", sum);
free(ptr);
return 0;
}
C realloc()
If the previously allocated memory is insufficient or more than required, you can change the
previously allocated memory size using realloc().
Syntax of realloc()
ptr = realloc(ptr, newsize);
Here, ptr is reallocated with size of newsize.
Example #3: Using realloc()
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int main()
{
int *ptr, i , n1, n2;
printf("Enter size of array: ");
scanf("%d", &n1);
ptr = (int*) malloc(n1 * sizeof(int));
printf("Address of previously allocated memory: ");
for(i = 0; i < n1; ++i)
printf("%u\t",ptr + i);
printf("\nEnter new size of array: ");
scanf("%d", &n2);
ptr = realloc(ptr, n2);
for(i = 0; i < n2; ++i)
printf("%u\t", ptr + i);
return 0;
}
