In C, the exact size of array is unknown until compile time, i.e.
, the time when a
compiler compiles your code into a computer understandable language. So,
sometimes the size of the array can be insufficient or more than required.
Dynamic memory allocation allows a program to obtain more memory space
while running, or to release it if it's not required.
In simple terms, Dynamic memory allocation allows us to manually handle
memory space for a program.
Although, C language inherently does not have any technique to allocate
memory dynamically, there are 4 Library Functions under "stdlib.h" for
dynamic memory allocation.
Function Use of Function
Allocates requested size of bytes and returns a pointer first byte
malloc()
of allocated space
Allocates space for an array elements, initializes to zero and then
calloc()
returns a pointer to memory
free() deallocate the previously allocated space
realloc() Change the size of previously allocated space
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.
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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.
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.
free()
Dynamically allocated memory created with either calloc() or malloc() doesn't
get freed on its own. We 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.
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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);
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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);
}
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printf("Sum = %d", sum);
free(ptr);
return 0;
}
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: ");
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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;
}
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