What's the point of malloc(0)?

Question

I just saw this code:

artist = (char *) malloc(0);

...and I was wondering why would one do this?

Answer 1

In Windows:

• void *p = malloc(0); will allocate a zero-length buffer on the local heap. The pointer returned is a valid heap pointer.
• malloc ultimately calls HeapAlloc using the default C runtime heap which then calls RtlAllocateHeap, etc.
• free(p); uses HeapFree to free the 0-length buffer on the heap. Not freeing it would result in a memory leak.