Free-Store vs. Heap in C : Are They Really Different in Practice?

Free-Store vs. Heap in C : A Practical Distinction

Dynamic memory allocation, a technique for allocating memory at runtime, is performed using either new/delete or malloc/free functions. While it's commonly mentioned that new/delete operates on the "free-store" and malloc/free utilizes the "heap," the question arises: do these terms truly differ in practice?

Compiler Distinction

When it comes to C , the distinction between the "free-store" and the "heap" is largely conceptual. Compilers generally do not make any technical differentiation between the two terms. This is in contrast to the underlying functions (new/malloc and delete/free), which are distinctly implemented.

Separate Memory Spaces?

Whether the "free-store" and the "heap" reside in separate memory spaces depends on the compiler implementation. Some compilers might allocate distinct memory segments for each, while others may use a single pool. This segregation, however, is not inherent to the language itself.

Best Practices

Despite the potential overlap in their memory usage, it remains crucial to adhere to the established conventions in C . Always use new and delete together when dealing with class objects, and likewise for malloc and free when handling raw memory. This ensures that allocated memory is properly released to prevent memory leaks and other issues.

Summary

While the concepts of "free-store" and "heap" in C have a historical basis, their practical significance has diminished. In modern compilers, both new/delete and malloc/free allocate memory from the same underlying pool, subject to specific implementation details. However, maintaining the distinction between these two allocation methods remains important for code correctness and adherence to established practices.

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