Variable Sized Arrays vs calloc in C

Question

On the discussion of dynamic memory here: \"Intro to C Pointers and Dynamic Memory\"

The author states:

A memory block like this can effective

Answer 1

Because

int array[variable];

isn't valid in standard C -- you can only define the length of an array with a constant. (such as your

char name[] = "Nick";

example, which isn't variable-length).

As such, it's necessary to use a memory allocator like calloc() if you want to create an array of a length based on a program variable.

Just don't forget to free() it.