4.4BSD/usr/share/man/cat3/malloc.0

MALLOC(3)                   BSD Programmer's Manual                  MALLOC(3)

NNAAMMEE
     mmaalllloocc, - general memory allocation function

SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
     ##iinncclluuddee <<ssttddlliibb..hh>>

     _v_o_i_d _*
     mmaalllloocc(_s_i_z_e___t _s_i_z_e);

DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
     The mmaalllloocc() function allocates uninitialized space for an object whose
     size is specified by _s_i_z_e. The mmaalllloocc() function maintains multiple lists
     of free blocks according to size, allocating space from the appropriate
     list.

     The allocated space is suitably aligned (after possible pointer coercion)
     for storage of any type of object. If the space is of _p_a_g_e_s_i_z_e or larger,
     the memory returned will be page-aligned.

RREETTUURRNN VVAALLUUEESS
     The mmaalllloocc() function returns a pointer to the allocated space if suc-
     cessful; otherwise a null pointer is returned.

SSEEEE AALLSSOO
     brk(2),  pagesize(2),  free(3),  calloc(3),  alloca(3),  realloc(3),
     memory(3)

SSTTAANNDDAARRDDSS
     The mmaalllloocc() function conforms to ANSI C X3.159-1989 (``ANSI C '').

BBUUGGSS
     The current implementation of malloc does not always fail gracefully when
     system memory limits are approached.  It may fail to allocate memory when
     larger free blocks could be broken up, or when limits are exceeded be-
     cause the size is rounded up.  It is optimized for sizes that are powers
     of two.

4th Berkeley Distribution        June 4, 1993                                1