Dynamic Memory

Allocation
Ms.M.Sangeetha,
AP(SRG)/CSE,
KEC
Static Memory Allocation

int a[9];
Dynamic Memory Allocation
 The process of allocating memory at runtime
Static vs Dynamic memory allocation

Static Memory Allocation Dynamic Memory Allocation

Memory is allocated at compile

Memory is allocated at run time.
time.

Memory can't be increased while Memory can be increased while

executing program. executing program.

Used in array. Used in linked list.

Library Functions
1. malloc()
2. calloc() <stdlib.h>

3. free()
4. realloc()
malloc()
 malloc() function stands for memory allocation
 Allocates single block of memory with
requested size and returns the pointer (of
type void) to the first byte of allocated space.
 Returns NULL if memory is not sufficient.
malloc()
 Syntax 
ptr = (cast_type *) malloc (byte_size);
 Example
int *x;
x = (int*)malloc(5 * sizeof(int));
#include <stdio.h> #include <stdlib.h>
int main(){
int* ptr; int n, i;
n = 5;
ptr = (int*)malloc(n *sizeof(int));
if (ptr == NULL) {
printf("Memory not allocated.\n");
exit(0);
}
else {
for (i = 0; i < n; ++i)
ptr[i] = i + 1;
printf("The elements of the array are: ");
for (i = 0; i < n; ++i)
printf("%d, ", ptr[i]);
}
return 0;}
calloc()
 calloc() function stands for contiguous allocation
 Allocates the space for elements of an array.
Initializes the elements to zero and returns a
pointer to the memory.
 Returns NULL if memory is not sufficient.
calloc()
 Syntax
ptr = (cast_type *) calloc (number,byte-size);
 Example
ptr = (int *) calloc(5, sizeof(int));
#include <stdio.h> #include <stdlib.h>
int main(){
int* ptr; int n, i;
n = 5;
ptr = (int*)calloc(n , sizeof(int));
if (ptr == NULL) {
printf("Memory not allocated.\n");
exit(0);
}
else {
for (i = 0; i < n; ++i)
ptr[i] = i + 1;
printf("The elements of the array are: ");
for (i = 0; i < n; ++i)
printf("%d, ", ptr[i]);
}
return 0;}
malloc() vs calloc()
  malloc() function allocates memory and
leaves the memory uninitialized
 calloc() function allocates memory and
initializes all bits to zero
free()
 Frees or empties the previously allocated
memory space.
 Syntax
free(ptr);
#include <stdio.h> #include <stdlib.h>
int main(){
int* ptr; int n, i;
n = 5;
ptr = (int*)calloc(n , sizeof(int));
if (ptr == NULL) {
printf("Memory not allocated.\n");
exit(0);
}
else {
for (i = 0; i < n; ++i)
ptr[i] = i + 1;
printf("The elements of the array are: ");
for (i = 0; i < n; ++i)
printf("%d, ", ptr[i]);
}
free(ptr);
return 0;}
realloc()
 Modify the size of previously allocated
memory space
◦ If memory is not sufficient for malloc() or calloc(),
the memory can be reallocated by realloc() function
realloc()
 Syntax
ptr=realloc(ptr, new-size)  
 Example
int *ptr;
ptr = (int*)malloc(50 * sizeof(int));
ptr = (int *) realloc(ptr, 60*sizeof(int));
Example
#include <stdio.h>
int main () {
char *ptr;
ptr = (char *) malloc(10);
strcpy(ptr, "Programming");
printf(" %s, Address = %u\n", ptr, ptr);

ptr = (char *) realloc(ptr, 20); //ptr is reallocated with new size

strcat(ptr, " In 'C'");
printf(" %s, Address = %u\n", ptr, ptr);
free(ptr);
return 0;
}
Thank
You