Thread: malloc and realloc

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
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    malloc and realloc

    hello,
    Code:
    char *str;
    str = (char *) malloc (sizeof (char) * strlen("hello"));
    strcpy(str, "hello");
    str = (char *) malloc (sizeof (char) * strlen("bye bye"));
    strcpy(str, "bye bye");
    g_free(str);
    is the above code memory OK or the continuous allocation of malloc will lead to a memory leak problem (imagine i have a big loop of reading strings)? in other words is the use of malloc correct or do i need to use realloc? as i think the only difference between the two is that malloc is destructive without copying the previous contents while realloc is also destructive but copies the old contents if necessary

    cheers
    Last edited by odysseus.lost; 05-27-2005 at 04:25 AM. Reason: clarification

  2. #2
    FOX
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    188
    You have a buffer overflow in your code by the way. It should read
    Code:
    str = (char *) malloc (sizeof (char) * (strlen("hello")+1));
    instead of
    Code:
    str = (char *) malloc (sizeof (char) * strlen("hello"));
    It's because strlen does not count the leading '\0' character, so you're not allocating space for it. If you try to printf str later, you'll continue to print garbage until a NUL character is encountered in memory.

  3. #3
    Registered User
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    Jan 2005
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    As for your question, you do have a memory leak. Either free the memory pointed to by str before mallocing more memory or use realloc.

  4. #4
    ATH0 quzah's Avatar
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    Oct 2001
    Posts
    14,826
    Oh, and stop typecasting malloc. As with all functions that return void pointers, you don't ever typecast their return values. There's information on the FAQ as why not to do this. If it gives you a warning when you don't typecast, then stop compling as C++ and compile as C.

    Quzah.
    Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment.

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