FREE(3P) POSIX Programmer's Manual FREE(3P)PROLOG
This manual page is part of the POSIX Programmer's Manual. The Linux
implementation of this interface may differ (consult the corresponding
Linux manual page for details of Linux behavior), or the interface may
not be implemented on Linux.
NAMEfree - free allocated memory
SYNOPSIS
#include <stdlib.h>
void free(void *ptr);
DESCRIPTION
The free() function shall cause the space pointed to by ptr to be deal‐
located; that is, made available for further allocation. If ptr is a
null pointer, no action shall occur. Otherwise, if the argument does
not match a pointer earlier returned by the calloc(), malloc(),
posix_memalign(), realloc(), or strdup() function, or if the space
has been deallocated by a call to free() or realloc(), the behavior is
undefined.
Any use of a pointer that refers to freed space results in undefined
behavior.
RETURN VALUE
The free() function shall not return a value.
ERRORS
No errors are defined.
The following sections are informative.
EXAMPLES
None.
APPLICATION USAGE
There is now no requirement for the implementation to support the
inclusion of <malloc.h>.
RATIONALE
None.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
None.
SEE ALSOcalloc(), malloc(), realloc(), the Base Definitions volume of
IEEE Std 1003.1-2001, <stdlib.h>
COPYRIGHT
Portions of this text are reprinted and reproduced in electronic form
from IEEE Std 1003.1, 2003 Edition, Standard for Information Technology
-- Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX), The Open Group Base
Specifications Issue 6, Copyright (C) 2001-2003 by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc and The Open Group. In the
event of any discrepancy between this version and the original IEEE and
The Open Group Standard, the original IEEE and The Open Group Standard
is the referee document. The original Standard can be obtained online
at http://www.opengroup.org/unix/online.html .
IEEE/The Open Group 2003 FREE(3P)
