NAME    [Toc]    [Back]

     alloca - memory allocator

SYNOPSIS    [Toc]    [Back]

     #include <stdlib.h>

     void *
     alloca(size_t size);

DESCRIPTION    [Toc]    [Back]

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

RETURN VALUES    [Toc]    [Back]

     The alloca() function returns a pointer to the beginning  of
the allocated
     space.

SEE ALSO    [Toc]    [Back]

     pagesize(1), brk(2), calloc(3), malloc(3), realloc(3)

BUGS    [Toc]    [Back]

     The  alloca() function is machine dependent; its use is discouraged.

     The alloca() function is slightly unsafe because  it  cannot
ensure that
     the  pointer  returned points to a valid and usable block of
memory.  The
     allocation made may exceed the bounds of the stack, or  even
go further
     into  other objects in memory, and alloca() cannot determine
such an error.
  Avoid alloca() with large unbounded allocations.

OpenBSD      3.6                            May      2,      1991