If I call free(NULL) or free(ptr) where ptr == NULL, will it crash the program or not compile?
I'd try it out myself, except there isn't really an easy place in my existing code to do it and I'd have to go through a whole bunch of overhead stuff to create a new project in the environment I'm working on. Thanks for any help.
sorry for this thread, after more looking around, I found out free(NULL) would indeed crash the program. Thanks.
From what unfortunate resource did you get that?Originally Posted by fanoliv
free(NULL) is well defined: "no action occurs".
7. It is easier to write an incorrect program than understand a correct one.
40. There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third one works.*
Really? Well, I was just searching through these forums actually. Looks like I'll have to be more careful next time. Thanks a lot for your reply.
The *NIX manual pages are a great resource for C functions. If you're not in a *NIX environment, you can find them here:
http://www.die.net/doc/linux/man/
The one for free() specifically is: http://www.die.net/doc/linux/man/man3/free.3.html
And on that page you'll find:
The free() function shall cause the space pointed to by ptr to be deallocated; that is, made available for further allocation. If ptr is a null pointer, no action shall occur. Otherwise, if the argument does not match a pointer earlier returned by the calloc(), malloc(), posix_memalign(), realloc(), or strdup() function, or if the space has been deallocated by a call to free() or realloc(), the behavior is undefined.
If you understand what you're doing, you're not learning anything.
D'oh!
Actually, I'm curious where such a thing was said. Do you know what text you used for a search -- or better, can you point out the thread(s)?
7. It is easier to write an incorrect program than understand a correct one.
40. There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third one works.*
Was here, sixth post down.
http://cboard.cprogramming.com/showt...ight=free+null
fanoliv, check out the last post in that thread -- the one by jafet.
If you understand what you're doing, you're not learning anything.
