malloc() in C not working as expected

Question

I\'m new to C. Sorry if this has already been answered, I could\'n find a straight answer, so here we go..

I\'m trying to understand how malloc() works in C. I have this

Answer 1

malloc() is the function call which is specified in Stdlib.h header file. If you are using arrays, you have to fix your memory length before utilize it. But in malloc() function, you can allocate the memory when you need and in required size. When you allocate the memory through malloc() it will search the memory modules and find the free block. even the memory blocks are in different places, it will assign a address and connect all the blocks. when your process finish, you can free it. Free means, assigning a memory is in RAM only. once you process the function and make some data, you will shift the data to hard disk or any other permenant storage. afterwards, you can free the block so you can use for another data. If you are going through pointer function, with out malloc() you can not make data blocks. New() is the keyword for c++.

When you don't know when you are programming how big is the space of memory you will need, you can use the function malloc

void *malloc(size_t size); The malloc() function shall allocate unused space for an object whose size in bytes is specified by size and whose value is unspecified.

how does it work is the question...

so your system have the free chain list, that lists all the memory spaces available, the malloc search this list until it finds a space big enough as you required. Then it breaks this space in 2, sends you the space you required and put the other one back in the list. It breaks in pieces of size 2^n that way you wont have weird space sizes in your list, what makes it easy just like Lego.

when you call 'free' your block goes back to the free chain list.