Which of the following will occur if we call the free() function on a NULL pointer?
a) The program will crash
b) The memory will be freed
c) Nothing will happen
d) The pointer will be reset to NULL
Answer:
c) Nothing will happen
Explanation:
If you call the free() function on a NULL pointer in C, nothing will happen. The C standard specifies that free() on a NULL pointer has no effect and is guaranteed not to crash the program. This behavior allows you to safely free memory without having to check if the pointer is NULL, simplifying memory management code.
Understanding this behavior is important for writing safe and predictable C code, particularly in complex programs that manage dynamic memory.