1BRK(2)                        System Calls Manual                       BRK(2)
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NAME

6       brk, sbrk, break - change core allocation
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SYNOPSIS

9       char *brk(addr)
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11       char *sbrk(incr)
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DESCRIPTION

14       Brk  sets the system's idea of the lowest location not used by the pro‐
15       gram (called the break) to addr (rounded up to the next multiple of  64
16       bytes  on  the PDP11, 256 bytes on the Interdata 8/32, 512 bytes on the
17       VAX-11/780).  Locations not less than addr and below the stack  pointer
18       are  not in the address space and will thus cause a memory violation if
19       accessed.
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21       In the alternate function sbrk, incr more bytes are added to  the  pro‐
22       gram's  data  space  and  a  pointer  to  the  start of the new area is
23       returned.
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25       When a program begins execution via exec the break is set at the  high‐
26       est  location  defined by the program and data storage areas.  Ordinar‐
27       ily, therefore, only programs with  growing  data  areas  need  to  use
28       break.
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SEE ALSO

31       exec(2), malloc(3), end(3)
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DIAGNOSTICS

34       Zero  is returned if the break could be set; -1 if the program requests
35       more memory than the system limit or if too many segmentation registers
36       would be required to implement the break.
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BUGS

39       Setting the break in the range 0177701 to 0177777 (on the PDP11) is the
40       same as setting it to zero.
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ASSEMBLER

43       (break = 17.)
44       sys break; addr
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46       Break performs the function of brk.  The name of  the  routine  differs
47       from that in C for historical reasons.
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