C Academy · Lesson

malloc and free

Allocate on the heap.

malloc and free is a free C Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 1 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the C Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

The Heap

So far variables lived on the stack with a fixed lifetime. The heap lets you request memory at runtime and keep it as long as you need.

You manage heap memory yourself using <stdlib.h> functions.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main(void) {
    int *p = malloc(sizeof(int));
    *p = 99;
    printf("%d\n", *p);
    free(p);
    return 0;
}

Calling malloc

malloc(size) reserves size bytes and returns a pointer to them, or NULL on failure.

The memory is uninitialized: its contents are indeterminate.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main(void) {
    int *p = malloc(sizeof(int));
    *p = 7;
    printf("value = %d\n", *p);
    free(p);
    return 0;
}

Sizing with sizeof

Always size allocations with sizeof so the code is correct on any platform.

Writing sizeof(*p) ties the size to the pointer's type automatically.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main(void) {
    double *p = malloc(sizeof(*p));
    *p = 3.14;
    printf("%f\n", *p);
    free(p);
    return 0;
}

Always Check for NULL

If allocation fails, malloc returns NULL. Dereferencing it crashes the program.

Check the result before using it.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main(void) {
    int *p = malloc(sizeof(int));
    if (p == NULL) {
        printf("allocation failed\n");
        return 1;
    }
    *p = 5;
    printf("ok: %d\n", *p);
    free(p);
    return 0;
}

Allocating an Array

To hold many elements, multiply the element size by the count.

malloc(n * sizeof(int)) creates room for n integers.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main(void) {
    int n = 5;
    int *arr = malloc(n * sizeof(int));
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) arr[i] = i * i;
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) printf("%d ", arr[i]);
    printf("\n");
    free(arr);
    return 0;
}

Heap Arrays Use Pointer Indexing

A heap array is accessed through its pointer with the familiar arr[i] syntax, which is the same as *(arr + i).

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main(void) {
    int *arr = malloc(3 * sizeof(int));
    arr[0] = 10;
    *(arr + 1) = 20;
    arr[2] = 30;
    printf("%d %d %d\n", arr[0], arr[1], arr[2]);
    free(arr);
    return 0;
}

Freeing Memory

free(p) returns the block to the allocator. After this you must not use p to access that memory.

Every successful malloc needs a matching free.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main(void) {
    char *buf = malloc(16);
    if (buf) {
        buf[0] = 'A';
        printf("%c\n", buf[0]);
        free(buf);
    }
    return 0;
}

free(NULL) Is Safe

Calling free on a NULL pointer does nothing and is perfectly legal.

This simplifies cleanup code that may run before allocation succeeds.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main(void) {
    int *p = NULL;
    free(p);
    printf("free(NULL) was safe\n");
    return 0;
}

Returning Heap Memory

Unlike stack variables, heap memory survives after the function returns. This lets a function allocate and hand back a buffer.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int *make_range(int n) {
    int *a = malloc(n * sizeof(int));
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) a[i] = i;
    return a;
}

int main(void) {
    int *r = make_range(4);
    printf("%d %d\n", r[0], r[3]);
    free(r);
    return 0;
}

Do Not Cast malloc in C

In C, malloc returns a void * that converts to any pointer type automatically.

Casting it is unnecessary and can hide a missing <stdlib.h> include.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main(void) {
    long *p = malloc(sizeof(long));
    *p = 1234567L;
    printf("%ld\n", *p);
    free(p);
    return 0;
}

Don't Free Twice

Calling free on the same pointer twice is undefined behavior and can corrupt the heap.

Set the pointer to NULL after freeing to make accidental reuse harmless.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main(void) {
    int *p = malloc(sizeof(int));
    *p = 1;
    free(p);
    p = NULL;
    free(p);
    printf("no double free\n");
    return 0;
}

Quick Check

Test your knowledge of malloc and free.

Recap

You learned heap allocation basics:

malloc(size) reserves uninitialized bytes, returning NULL on failure.
Always check the result and size with sizeof.
free(p) returns memory; every malloc needs one free.
free(NULL) is safe; double free is undefined.

Frequently asked questions

Is the “malloc and free” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “malloc and free” is free to read here on the web, and the C Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the C Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “malloc and free”?

Allocate on the heap. You practise C Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start C Academy?

No prior experience is required. C Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 1 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “malloc and free” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this C Academy lesson?

Yes. Every C Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

← Back to C Academy