MALLOC is a computer programming term that refers to a function used in the C programming language to allocate a specified amount of memory dynamically. It stands for "memory allocation."
MALLOC allows programmers to request a block of memory from the heap, which is a region of memory used for dynamic memory allocation. With MALLOC, programmers can specify the size of memory they require, and the function then reserves that amount of memory for their program's use.
The allocated memory block is typically used for storing variables, data structures, or arrays. The MALLOC function returns a pointer to the start of the allocated memory block, allowing the programmer to access and make use of this memory. It is important to note that if the requested amount of memory cannot be allocated, MALLOC will return a null pointer.
Once the allocated memory is no longer needed or has been used, programmers should free the memory using the free() function. This is important to avoid memory leaks, which occur when memory is allocated but not released, leading to inefficient memory usage.
Overall, MALLOC is a crucial function in dynamic memory management for C programmers, enabling them to allocate memory during program execution and release it when no longer needed, ensuring efficient memory utilization.
