What are the best practices for dynamic memory allocation in C?

What are the best practices for dynamic memory allocation in C?

Some best practices include always checking the return value of malloc, using free to avoid memory leaks, and keeping track of allocated memory.

Can you explain why checking the return value of malloc is important?

Yes, checking the return value of malloc is crucial because it ensures that memory allocation was successful. If malloc fails, it returns NULL, and using a NULL pointer can lead to undefined behavior.

What should I do if malloc returns NULL?

If malloc returns NULL, you should handle the error gracefully, possibly by freeing any previously allocated memory and informing the user or logging the error.

Are there any tools to help with memory management in C?

Yes, tools like Valgrind can help detect memory leaks and memory management issues in C programs.