iOS Interview Handbook

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How does Swift use stack

and heap memory for value
types and reference types?
Heap Memory Allocation: In Swift, heap memory is
primarily used for reference types and dynamic
memory allocation. The heap is responsible for storing
data that needs to persist beyond the current scope or
function call, especially for objects that need to be
shared or passed by reference.

Stack Memory Allocation: The stack is used for static

memory allocation and value type. It's where the
program stores function calls, local variables, and
control data. Memory allocated on the stack is
automatically freed when the function that allocated it
exits. Stack memory is last-in, first-out (LIFO).
 PURPOSE
Heap: Flexible, long-term storage for dynamically
allocated data like objects and large datasets.
Manually managed (in Swift, automatically
managed by ARC).

Stack: Fast, temporary storage for local variables,

function calls, and short-lived data. Automatically
managed (memory is freed when functions return).
 HEAP MEMORY ALLOCATION
Think of it like a free space to store larger or long-term
items: You can put things anywhere in the heap, but
you need to remember where you put them.
It's used to store objects that you need to keep for a
while, even after a function ends, like when you create
an instance of a class.
Example: When you create a new object (like a car in a
game), it gets stored in the heap, and you get a
reference (pointer) to that object to use later.
Manually managed (in some languages): You need to
manage when to put things in the heap and when to
clean them up. In Swift, this is done automatically
using something called ARC (Automatic Reference
Counting).
 STACK MEMORY ALLOCATION
Think of it like a stack of plates: You can only put
new plates on the top or take them off from the top
(Last-In, First-Out).
It's used to store temporary data, like when you are
working inside a function or method.
Example: When you declare a local variable in a
function, like a number or a small object, it gets
stored in the stack.
Automatically managed: When the function is done,
all the data in the stack is cleared automatically.
Fast but limited: The stack is quick to access, but it
has limited space.
 KEY DIFFERENCES
1. Purpose:
Stack: Used for managing short-lived, temporary data like
local variables and function calls. Each function gets its
own space in the stack.
Heap: Used for dynamically allocated, long-lived objects or
data that needs to persist beyond a function’s scope or
can be shared between functions or threads.
2. Memory Allocation and Deallocation:
Stack: Memory is allocated and deallocated automatically
in a Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) manner. When a function call
ends, the memory used within it is automatically freed.
Heap: Memory allocation and deallocation are manual (or
managed automatically through mechanisms like Swift's
ARC). Objects remain in memory until they are explicitly
deallocated or until ARC determines there are no more
references to them.
 KEY DIFFERENCES
3. Speed:
Stack: Accessing and managing data in the stack is faster
because the size and lifetime of the data are known in
advance, and operations are simple (pushing/popping
from the top of the stack).
Heap: Accessing data in the heap is slower due to the
complexity of managing dynamic memory. It requires
more processing to find free space for allocation and to
clean up when objects are no longer needed.
4. Data Type Storage:
Stack: Primarily used to store value types (e.g., Int, Struct)
and function call information (local variables, return
addresses). Once the function returns, the data is
automatically removed.
Heap: Used to store reference types (e.g., Class objects)
and dynamically allocated data (e.g., objects, arrays). The
data remains in memory as long as references to it exist.
 KEY DIFFERENCES
7. Memory Fragmentation:
Stack: No memory fragmentation because allocation and
deallocation follow a simple, sequential pattern.
Heap: Susceptible to memory fragmentation because
memory can be allocated and freed in any order, which
can leave gaps of unused memory that aren’t efficiently
reused.
8. Multithreading:
Stack: Each thread in a multithreaded application has its
own stack, meaning there is no need for synchronization
between threads for stack memory access.
Heap: The heap is shared across all threads, so
synchronization (e.g., using locks) is needed to avoid
conflicts when multiple threads try to access or modify
heap memory at the same time.
 iOS Interview Handbook

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