Linked Lists and Memory

I'm still getting used to C, i'm writing a basic linear linked list. Am I correct in assuming that the best coarse of action is to create a "free list" routine. I mean, i can't just free the head pointer and forget about the list right? One more thing, If im allocating memory for the node, and I want to store a string in that node, I have to allocate memory for the string too right? THANKS

I'm still getting used to C, i'm writing a basic linear linked list. Am I correct in assuming that the best coarse of action is to create a "free list" routine.

YES, that looks good

If im allocating memory for the node, and I want to store a string in that node, I have to allocate memory for the string too right?

If your data structure was like this

Code:

struct node
{
     char *str;
     struct node *next;
};

Then YES you will have to allocate memory and make sure u free all those memory when u free the node.

Or if your data structure looked something like this

Code:

struct node
{
   char str[25];
   struct node *next;
};

Then u dont have to allocate memory for your string, cos you have already allocated memory for your string when u create a new node.

ssharish