Thread: Why pointer variable hold new memory at each function call

  1. #1
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    Why pointer variable hold new memory at each function call

    Why pointer variable (new_node) hold new memory at each function call in my code ?

    Code:
      #include<stdio.h>
    #include<stdlib.h>
    
    struct node
    {
        struct node *next_node;
    };
    
    
    struct node *addNodeToFront( struct node *list)
    {
        struct node *new_node = malloc (sizeof(*new_node)); 
        printf("new_node = %p\n", (void *)new_node);
        if ( new_node != NULL)
        {
          //  new_node -> next_node = list;
            
        }
        return  new_node;
    }
    
    
       
    int main()
    {
       
        struct node *list = NULL;
        list = addNodeToFront(list);
        list = addNodeToFront(list);
        list = addNodeToFront(list);
        return 0;   
    }
    new_node = 00021230
    new_node = 00021260
    new_node = 00021270

  2. #2
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    Because you are adding a new node to the front of the list each time.

    Edit: In your case you are only allocation space for a new node each time.
    I suggest reading the assignment.

    Tim S.
    "...a computer is a stupid machine with the ability to do incredibly smart things, while computer programmers are smart people with the ability to do incredibly stupid things. They are,in short, a perfect match.." Bill Bryson

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by stahta01 View Post
    Because you are adding a new node to the front of the list each time.

    Edit: In your case you are only allocation space for a new node each time.
    I suggest reading the assignment.

    Tim S.
    I don't understand clearly why new memory allocate each time

    malloc return pointer in function

    Code:
     #include<stdio.h>
    #include<stdlib.h>
    
    struct node
    {
        struct node *next_node;
    };
    
    
    struct node *addNodeToFront( struct node *list)
    {
        struct node *new_node = malloc (sizeof(*new_node)); 
        printf("new_node = %p\n", (void *)new_node);
        if ( new_node != NULL)
        {
           new_node -> next_node = list;
           printf("new_node -> next_node = %p\n", (void *) new_node -> next_node);    
        }
        return  new_node;
    }
    
    
       
    int main()
    {
       
        struct node *list = NULL;
        printf("list = %p\n", (void *)list);
        list = addNodeToFront(list);
        printf("list = %p\n", (void *)list);
        list = addNodeToFront(list);
        list = addNodeToFront(list);
        return 0;   
    }
    list = 00000000
    new_node = 00B61230
    new_node -> next_node = 00000000
    list = 00B61230
    new_node = 00B61260
    new_node -> next_node = 00B61230
    new_node = 00B61270
    new_node -> next_node = 00B61260

  4. #4
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    > I don't understand clearly why new memory allocate each time
    Because that's what malloc does, returns a pointer to some new memory.

    If you want to store a list of 10 items, you need to allocate space for 10 items somehow.

    In this case, this means creating a list of 10 nodes, which will entail calling malloc (via addNodeToFront) 10 times.
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    > I don't understand clearly why new memory allocate each time
    Because that's what malloc does, returns a pointer to some new memory.

    If you want to store a list of 10 items, you need to allocate space for 10 items somehow.

    In this case, this means creating a list of 10 nodes, which will entail calling malloc (via addNodeToFront) 10 times.
    Code:
     #include<stdio.h>
    #include<stdlib.h>
    
    
    struct node
    {
        int data;
        struct node *next_node;
    };
    
    
    struct node *addNodeToFront( struct node *list, int value)
    {
        struct node *new_node = malloc (sizeof(*new_node)); 
    
    
        if ( new_node != NULL)
        {
           new_node -> data = value;    
           new_node -> next_node = list;
           
        }
        return  new_node;
    }
    
    
    void show(struct node *c)
    {
        if (c == NULL)
            return;
        show(c -> next_node);
        printf("%d\n", c-> data);
    } 
       
    int main()
    {
       
        struct node *list = NULL;
        list = addNodeToFront(list, 1);
    
    
        show(list);
        return 0;   
    }
    I know program has thses variables
    list ( pointer variable type struct )
    value ( variable type int)
    new_node ( pointer variable type struct )
    c( pointer variable type struct )

    Are these variable in code ?


    new_node -> data
    new_node -> next_node

    I think they are variables and occupy memory. They will store the data of node at function call

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