Final answer:
Dynamic memory allocation occurs when a new variable is created at runtime. It allows for flexibility in the size and lifespan of variables.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dynamic memory allocation occurs when a new variable is created at runtime. It is used to allocate memory for variables that are created during program execution. This allows for flexibility in the size and lifespan of variables, as memory can be allocated and deallocated as needed.
For example, if you have a program that needs to store a varying number of elements in an array, you can use dynamic memory allocation to allocate memory for the array at runtime. This allows the program to adapt to different inputs.
Dynamic memory allocation is commonly used in programming languages like C and C++. In these languages, functions such as malloc and new are used to allocate memory dynamically.