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Difference between malloc and alloc

Updated: 8/11/2023
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12y ago

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alloc is used as header file while using malloc and calloc functions in C prog.

The definition of malloc function is in the alloc.h file.

It's stdlib.h to be more precise

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12y ago
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15y ago

malloc will allocate a block of memory

realloc will resize a block of memory

// allocate a pointer to a block of memory to hold 10 ints

int *intArray = malloc(10 * sizeof(int));

// change intArray to hold 15 ints

intArray = realloc(15 * sizeof(int));

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What is the difference between Malloc and calloc in C and JAVA?

In C, malloc is used to reserve a predetermined size of memory. void * malloc ( size_t size ); calloc is used to reserve a chunk of memory large enough to store num elements, each of a predetermined size. void * calloc ( size_t num, size_t size ); To create a char array of size 10 you can do it in one of two ways: char* mChars = malloc( 10 * sizeof(char) ); char* cChars = calloc( 10, sizeof(char) ); There is no concept of malloc or calloc in Java.


How do you declare an N-Dimensional array using Malloc?

#include <stdlib.h> int **array1 = malloc(nrows * sizeof(int *)); for(i = 0; i < nrows; i++) array1[i] = malloc(ncolumns * sizeof(int));


What is the difference between malloc and new other than syntax?

Click on the link to your right for the answer.Answerboth malloc and new functions are used for dynamic memory allocations and the basic difference is: malloc requires a special "typecasting" when it allocates memory for eg. if the pointer used is the char pointer then after the processor allocates memory then this allocated memory needs to be typecasted to char pointer i.e (char*).but new does not requires any typecasting. Also, free is the keyword used to free the memory while using malloc and delete the keyword to free memory while using new, otherwise this will lead the memory leak. AnswerBesides the basic syntactical difference: malloc is a C function which will allocate the amount of memory you ask and that's it. new is a C++ operator which will allocate memory AND call the constructor of the class for which's object memory is being allocated. Similarily, free is a C function which will free up the memory allocated. but delete is a C++ operator which will free up the allocated memory AND call the destructor of the object.Answermalloc in a function and new is an operator, and its a good programming practice to use an operator instead of functions, because function itself requires some time to be executed whenever that particular function is called. so the main difference is that we use operators instead of malloc because of the TIME CONSTRAINT. Answer1.malloc requires the type casting during decleration , where as new doesn't needed the type casting during decleration 2. when ever we use new for allocating memory along with this it calls the constructor of the class for which object memory is allocated 3. in case of malloc free is the word used to clear the memory, where as delete is the format used in case of new to free the memory after usage 4. malloc is function, where as new is operator..so the time required for execution is less in case of new (it being a operator) as compared to malloc(it being a function) Answer1. malloc is a function call, while new is an operator. This difference is syntactic; behind the scenes, they both perform pretty much the same work to allocate the memory, and operator new also invokes any required constructors. There is a commonplace urban myth that operators are somehow faster in your code than functions; this is not correct, as any operator (except for mathematical operations that correspond directly to a single machine-code instruction) invocation amounts to a function call in any case. 2. malloc can fail, and returns a NULL pointer if memory is exhausted. Operator new never returns a NULL pointer, but indicates failure by throwing an exception instead. There is also a nothrow() version of operator new, which does return NULL on failure.


What if happen when you allocate memory by using malloc or calloc when the momory is not available contigiously?

malloc/calloc/realloc will return NULL


What is the malloc function?

The malloc function is one of a group of memory allocation functions; malloc, calloc, realloc, and free. Specifically malloc (size) returns a pointer to a new memory block of at least size bytes, suitably aligned for optimum access for any basic type, or it returns a NULL if the request cannot be satisfied.

Related questions

What is the difference between allocating memory through heap and malloc?

Nothing, malloc does allocate memory from the heap.


What is the difference between malloc and new in terms of throwing exceptions?

malloc will return a 0 if memory is unable to be allocated. new on the other hand will either throw an exception or also return 0, depending on the compiler and the compiler settings.


What is the difference between delete and free?

Are you talking about freeing dynamically allocated memory in C/C++? free() is a function that you use to release dynamically (i.e. at run-time) created memory in C, using malloc() or alloc() or such other functions. In the same way, delete() is a function that is used in C++ to release memory created at run-time using the function new(). (Note that you can still use malloc and other C functions in your C++ code, but it is not considered a good programming habit. Moreover, new() is easier to use and more flexible, once you get the hang of it. If this is not what you had in mind, then I do not know if this will be of any help to you. addition: -new is constructor of which delete is destructor so use in pairs always.. similarly use malloc with free.. extra note: - no type cast required for new , whereas malloc, free may require it. - new returns exception whereas malloc returns NULL when memory issue.


Comparison of C' malloc and free functions with c new and delete operators?

Hi, The difference between new and malloc: 1.The New is a operator however malloc is a function 2.New returns the object type and there is no typecasting required. In malloc type casting should be done as it returns a void*. 3. The new operator can be overloaded however there is no over loading in C and hence Malloc can not be overloaded. 4. Operater New asks for the number of objects to be allocated however in malloc it will ask you for the number of bytes to be allocated. 5. The New operater will return you a exception of memory is not available however in malloc it will return u a NULL. 6. New is a concept for dynamically allocation in OOPS(C++) however malloc is used in C. The difference between the delete and free is as follows: 1. delete is a operator and can be overloaded however free is a function and can not be overloaded. With Regards, Shashiraja Shastry


What is the difference between Malloc and calloc in C and JAVA?

In C, malloc is used to reserve a predetermined size of memory. void * malloc ( size_t size ); calloc is used to reserve a chunk of memory large enough to store num elements, each of a predetermined size. void * calloc ( size_t num, size_t size ); To create a char array of size 10 you can do it in one of two ways: char* mChars = malloc( 10 * sizeof(char) ); char* cChars = calloc( 10, sizeof(char) ); There is no concept of malloc or calloc in Java.


What is different between malloc and free?

malloc reserves memory for your use, free removes the reservation done by malloc and makes the memory available for other applications.Note: both of them is a special case of realloc:malloc (n) = realloc (NULL, n)free (p) = realloc (p, 0)


What type of flooring does Alloc provide?

Alloc flooring can provide residences and businesses with quality flooring at a great price. Types of flooring include: hard wood, stone, tile and laminate.


What is the difference between static memory versus dynamic memory?

Dynamic memory can be declared at run-time using the new and delete operators (or malloc and free in C), while static memory must be declared at compile-time.


How do you declare an N-Dimensional array using Malloc?

#include <stdlib.h> int **array1 = malloc(nrows * sizeof(int *)); for(i = 0; i < nrows; i++) array1[i] = malloc(ncolumns * sizeof(int));


What is the difference between malloc and new other than syntax?

Click on the link to your right for the answer.Answerboth malloc and new functions are used for dynamic memory allocations and the basic difference is: malloc requires a special "typecasting" when it allocates memory for eg. if the pointer used is the char pointer then after the processor allocates memory then this allocated memory needs to be typecasted to char pointer i.e (char*).but new does not requires any typecasting. Also, free is the keyword used to free the memory while using malloc and delete the keyword to free memory while using new, otherwise this will lead the memory leak. AnswerBesides the basic syntactical difference: malloc is a C function which will allocate the amount of memory you ask and that's it. new is a C++ operator which will allocate memory AND call the constructor of the class for which's object memory is being allocated. Similarily, free is a C function which will free up the memory allocated. but delete is a C++ operator which will free up the allocated memory AND call the destructor of the object.Answermalloc in a function and new is an operator, and its a good programming practice to use an operator instead of functions, because function itself requires some time to be executed whenever that particular function is called. so the main difference is that we use operators instead of malloc because of the TIME CONSTRAINT. Answer1.malloc requires the type casting during decleration , where as new doesn't needed the type casting during decleration 2. when ever we use new for allocating memory along with this it calls the constructor of the class for which object memory is allocated 3. in case of malloc free is the word used to clear the memory, where as delete is the format used in case of new to free the memory after usage 4. malloc is function, where as new is operator..so the time required for execution is less in case of new (it being a operator) as compared to malloc(it being a function) Answer1. malloc is a function call, while new is an operator. This difference is syntactic; behind the scenes, they both perform pretty much the same work to allocate the memory, and operator new also invokes any required constructors. There is a commonplace urban myth that operators are somehow faster in your code than functions; this is not correct, as any operator (except for mathematical operations that correspond directly to a single machine-code instruction) invocation amounts to a function call in any case. 2. malloc can fail, and returns a NULL pointer if memory is exhausted. Operator new never returns a NULL pointer, but indicates failure by throwing an exception instead. There is also a nothrow() version of operator new, which does return NULL on failure.


What if happen when you allocate memory by using malloc or calloc when the momory is not available contigiously?

malloc/calloc/realloc will return NULL


What is really meant by malloc and where you will use this malloc?

malloc is a function of the standard c library (stdlib) and it is abbreviation for memory allocate. What this function does is allocates memory in the RAM of computer to store variable data in it. You will use it whenever you need a place to store you temporary data such as an array or structure. To use malloc all you have to do is call malloc and tell it the size of the memory you want. It will then return a pointer to that memory. persumabely if it fails it returns NULL.