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ALLOCA(3)		 BSD Library Functions Manual		     ALLOCA(3)

NAME
     alloca — memory allocator

LIBRARY
     Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

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 automatically freed on return.

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

SEE ALSO
     brk(2), calloc(3), getpagesize(3), malloc(3), realloc(3)

CAVEATS
     Few limitations can be mentioned:

     ·	 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 mem‐
	 ory.  The allocation made may exceed the bounds of the stack, or even
	 go further into other objects in memory, and alloca() cannot deter‐
	 mine such an error.  Avoid alloca() with large unbounded allocations.

     ·	 Since alloca() modifies the stack at runtime, it causes problems to
	 certain security features.  See security(7) for a discussion.

BSD				March 21, 2011				   BSD

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