free memory

/* how would I go about freeing the memory assigned in the loop
for the nodes*/

#include<string.h>
#include<iostream.h>
#include<conio.h>
#include<stdlib.h>
#define MAX 30

struct node{
int age;
char name[MAX];
node *next;
};


int main()
{
int amount;

cout<<"How many people to be stored";
cin>>amount;
/* ptr is of type node its assigned the starting address of */
node *ptr=(node*)malloc(sizeof(node)); /* a block of memory the size of node */
/* malloc must be cast in c++ and not in c */
strcpy(ptr->name,"ANTHONY");
cout<<ptr->name;

for(int start=0;start<amount;start++)
{
ptr->next=(node*)malloc(sizeof(node));
ptr=ptr->next;
}
ptr=NULL;

getch();

return 0;
}

/* thanks for all the help */

Try calling free() on each node pointer and watch for the node where next == NULL as that will be the end of the list..

That might be difficult though as every "ptr=ptr->next;" allocates to the same next pointer and so you will be allocating structures to which you have no pointer

Also....as you are using C++ try use the new and delete operators instead of the malloc and free functions