What is the purpose of the malloc() function in C?
a) It dynamically allocates memory
b) It deallocates memory
c) It initializes a variable
d) It returns a value from a function
Answer:
a) It dynamically allocates memory
Explanation:
The malloc() function in C is used to dynamically allocate memory during the runtime of a program. It allocates a specified number of bytes and returns a pointer to the first byte of the allocated memory block. Unlike automatic memory allocation, where the memory is automatically freed when the variable goes out of scope, memory allocated using malloc() remains allocated until it is explicitly freed using the free() function. This allows for more flexible memory management, particularly in programs that require dynamic data structures like linked lists and trees.
Understanding malloc() is essential for managing dynamic memory allocation in C, enabling the creation of efficient and flexible programs.