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Lab Manual 11

The document discusses dynamic memory allocation in C programming. It explains functions like malloc(), calloc(), realloc() and free() to allocate and free memory dynamically at runtime. It also provides examples of using these functions and compares malloc and calloc. The document ends with lab tasks on dynamic memory allocation.

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29 views6 pages

Lab Manual 11

The document discusses dynamic memory allocation in C programming. It explains functions like malloc(), calloc(), realloc() and free() to allocate and free memory dynamically at runtime. It also provides examples of using these functions and compares malloc and calloc. The document ends with lab tasks on dynamic memory allocation.

Uploaded by

ali jodat
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Programming Fundamentals Lab

CS118
Programming LAB 11
Dynamic Memory Allocation
Fundamentals
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF COMPUTER AND EMERGING SCIENCES

1|Page
Programming Fundamentals Lab

Dynamic Memory Allocation


As you know, an array is a collection of a fixed number of values. Once the size of an array is
declared, you cannot change it. Sometimes the size of the array you declared may be insufficient.
To solve this issue, you can allocate memory manually during run-time. This is known as
dynamic memory allocation in C programming.
To allocate memory dynamically, library functions are malloc(), calloc(), realloc() and free() are
used. These functions are defined in the <stdlib.h> header file.

Function Purpose

malloc Allocates the memory of requested size and returns the pointer to the first byte of
allocated space.

calloc Allocates the space for elements of an array. Initializes the elements to zero and
returns a pointer to the memory.

realloc It is used to modify the size of previously allocated memory space.

Free Frees or empties the previously allocated memory space.

C malloc()
The name "malloc" stands for memory allocation. The malloc() function reserves a block of
memory of the specified number of bytes. And, it returns a pointer of void which can be casted
into pointers of any form.
Syntax:
ptr = (castType*) malloc(size);
Example:
ptr = (int*) malloc(100 * sizeof(float));

The above statement allocates 400 bytes of memory. It's because the size of float is 4 bytes. And,
the pointer ptr holds the address of the first byte in the allocated memory. The expression results
in a NULL pointer if the memory cannot be allocated.

C calloc()
The name "calloc" stands for contiguous allocation. The malloc() function allocates memory and
leaves the memory uninitialized. Whereas, the calloc() function allocates memory and initializes
all bits to zero.
Syntax:
ptr = (castType*)calloc(n, size);
Example:
ptr = (float*) calloc(25, sizeof(float));
The above statement allocates contiguous space in memory for 25 elements of type float.
Programming Fundamentals Lab

C free()
Dynamically allocated memory created with either calloc() or malloc() doesn't get freed on their
own. You must explicitly use free() to release the space.
Syntax:
free(ptr);
This statement frees the space allocated in the memory pointed by ptr.

C realloc()
If the dynamically allocated memory is insufficient or more than required, you can change the
size of previously allocated memory using the realloc() function.
Syntax:
ptr = realloc(ptr, x);
Here, ptr is reallocated with a new size x.

Example 1: malloc() and free()


// Program to calculate the sum of n numbers entered by the
user #include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int main()
{
int n, i, *ptr, sum = 0;
printf("Enter number of elements: ");
scanf("%d", &n);
ptr = (int*) malloc(n * sizeof(int));
// if memory cannot be
allocated if(ptr == NULL)
{
printf("Error! memory not allocated.");
exit(0);
}
printf("Enter elements: ");
for(i = 0; i < n; ++i)
{
scanf("%d", ptr + i);
sum += *(ptr + i);
}
printf("Sum = %d", sum);

// deallocating the memory


free(ptr);

return 0;
}
Programming Fundamentals Lab

Example 2: calloc() and free()


// Program to calculate the sum of n numbers entered by the
user #include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int main()
{
int n, i, *ptr, sum = 0;
printf("Enter number of elements: ");
scanf("%d", &n);
ptr = (int*) calloc(n, sizeof(int));
if(ptr == NULL)
{
printf("Error! memory not allocated.");
exit(0);
}
printf("Enter elements: ");
for(i = 0; i < n; ++i)
{
scanf("%d", ptr + i);
sum += *(ptr + i);
}
printf("Sum = %d", sum);
free(ptr);
return 0;}
Example 3: realloc()
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int main()
{
int *ptr, i , n1, n2;
printf("Enter size: ");
scanf("%d", &n1);
ptr = (int*) malloc(n1 * sizeof(int));
printf("Addresses of previously allocated memory: ");
for(i = 0; i < n1; ++i)
printf("%u\n",ptr + i);
printf("\nEnter the new size: ");
scanf("%d", &n2);
// rellocating the memory
ptr = realloc(ptr, n2 * sizeof(int));
printf("Addresses of newly allocated memory: ");
for(i = 0; i < n2; ++i)
printf("%u\n", ptr + i);
free(ptr);
return 0;
}
Programming Fundamentals Lab

calloc vs. malloc:


The calloc function is generally more suitable and efficient than that of the malloc
function. While both the functions are used to allocate memory space, calloc can
allocate multiple blocks at a single time. You don't have to request for a memory
block every time. The calloc function is used in complex data structures which require
larger memory space.
The memory block allocated by a calloc function is always initialized to zero while in
malloc it always contains a garbage value.

LAB TASK
Question # 01:

Write a function that print int, float and char values using void pointers but you
have to declare a single void pointer variable. And its up to user which type of
value it enters.
Question # 02:

Write a C program to create memory for int, char and float variable at run time
by using dynamic memory allocation.
Question # 03:

Write a program in C to find the smallest element using Dynamic


Memory Allocation.
Input total number of elements (1 to 50): 6
Number 1: 4
Number 2: 7
Number 3: 1
Number 4: 19
Number 5: 2
Number 6: 8
Output: The smallest number is 1

Question # 04:

Suppose your Programming Fundamental teacher provided you the midterm


marks of your section. Your task is to find the highest marks and 2nd highest
marks from the given list by C programming. Also find average marks of the class.
Write a C program by using dynamic memory allocation.
Programming Fundamentals Lab

Question # 05:

Suppose you want to put a toy in a box, but you only have an approximate idea of
its size. For that, you would require a box whose size is equal to the approximate
size of the toy. Write a program that satisfies the above statement.

Question # 06:

Write a C program in which you have to create memory for text string at run time
using malloc() function, text string will be inputted by the user and displayed.
Using free() function we will release the occupied memory.
Question # 07:

Write a C program in which you have to take three variables from user of type int,
char and float and by using a void pointer, pointing the addresses of all these
variables and print values of all variables along with their addresses .

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