alloca - memory allocator


SYNOPSIS

       #include <stdlib.h>

       void *alloca( size_t size);


DESCRIPTION

       The  alloca  function allocates size bytes of space in the
       stack frame of the caller.  This temporary space is  auto­
       matically freed on return.


RETURN VALUE

       The  alloca function returns a pointer to the beginning of
       the allocated space.  If the  allocation  failed,  a  NULL
       pointer is returned.


CONFORMING TO

       There  is  evidence  that  the alloca function appeared in
       32v, pwb, pwb.2, 3bsd, and 4bsd.  There is a man page  for
       it in BSD 4.3.  Linux uses the GNU version.


BUGS

       The alloca function is machine dependent.


SEE ALSO

       brk(2), pagesize(2), calloc(3), malloc(3), realloc(3)


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