Final answer:
The malloc(), realloc(), and free() functions are used in C for dynamic memory management. Malloc() allocates memory, realloc() changes the size of allocated memory, and free() deallocates memory to prevent memory leaks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding malloc(), realloc(), and free() in C programming
The malloc() (memory allocation) function is used to allocate a block of memory on the heap. The size of the block is determined by the size in bytes given as a parameter. The realloc() function is used to resize the memory block that was previously allocated with malloc() or calloc(). It allows you to either expand or reduce the size of the allocated memory, and it may move the memory block to a new location if necessary. The free() function deallocates a block of memory that was previously allocated by malloc(), calloc(), or realloc(), effectively freeing up that space on the heap for other uses.
These functions are essential for dynamic memory management in C programming, allowing developers to allocate memory as needed at runtime rather than at compile time. It's important to use these functions carefully to prevent memory leaks and dangling pointers, which can lead to undefined behavior and program crashes.