Contrast with Static Memory Allocation

Dynamic memory allocation allows for memory to be allocated during program execution, unlike static memory allocation which is determined at compile time

Use of Pointers and Functions

Pointers

Pointers are used to reference memory locations in dynamic memory allocation

Functions

Functions such as malloc and free are used to manage memory in dynamic memory allocation

Benefits and Challenges

Dynamic memory allocation allows for flexibility and optimized memory utilization, but also introduces potential issues such as memory leaks and fragmentation

Declaration and Initialization

Pointers are declared and initialized to reference the initial element of the array

Use of Malloc Function

The malloc function is used to allocate a contiguous memory block for the array

Accessing and Modifying Array Elements

Array elements must be accessed and modified through the pointer referencing the allocated memory block

Deallocating Memory

The free function is used to release dynamically allocated memory when it is no longer needed

Preventing Memory Leaks

Setting pointers to NULL after freeing memory helps prevent memory leaks

Managing Complex Data Types

Dynamic memory allocation is also applicable to complex data types such as arrays of pointers and structures

Allocation for Rows and Columns

Memory must be allocated for both rows and columns in a two-dimensional array

Nested Loops for Allocation

Nested loops are often used to allocate memory for each column within the rows

Creating a Genuine Two-Dimensional Array

This approach allows for the creation of a two-dimensional array with varying row lengths

Complex Data Types

Dynamic memory allocation is useful for handling collections of complex data types with varying sizes

Runtime Array Size Definition

Dynamic memory allocation allows for array sizes to be defined at runtime

Memory Utilization Optimization

By allocating only necessary memory, dynamic memory allocation optimizes memory utilization