1FREE(3P)                   POSIX Programmer's Manual                  FREE(3P)
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PROLOG

6       This  manual  page is part of the POSIX Programmer's Manual.  The Linux
7       implementation of this interface may differ (consult the  corresponding
8       Linux  manual page for details of Linux behavior), or the interface may
9       not be implemented on Linux.
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NAME

12       free - free allocated memory
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SYNOPSIS

15       #include <stdlib.h>
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17       void free(void *ptr);
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DESCRIPTION

21       The free() function shall cause the space pointed to by ptr to be deal‐
22       located;  that  is,  made available for further allocation. If ptr is a
23       null pointer, no action shall occur.  Otherwise, if the  argument  does
24       not  match  a  pointer  earlier  returned  by  the  calloc(), malloc(),
25       posix_memalign(),  realloc(), or   strdup()  function, or if the  space
26       has  been deallocated by a call to free() or realloc(), the behavior is
27       undefined.
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29       Any use of a pointer that refers to freed space  results  in  undefined
30       behavior.
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RETURN VALUE

33       The free() function shall not return a value.
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ERRORS

36       No errors are defined.
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38       The following sections are informative.
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EXAMPLES

41       None.
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APPLICATION USAGE

44       There  is  now  no  requirement  for  the implementation to support the
45       inclusion of <malloc.h>.
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RATIONALE

48       None.
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FUTURE DIRECTIONS

51       None.
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SEE ALSO

54       calloc(),  malloc(),  realloc(),  the  Base   Definitions   volume   of
55       IEEE Std 1003.1-2001, <stdlib.h>
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58       Portions  of  this text are reprinted and reproduced in electronic form
59       from IEEE Std 1003.1, 2003 Edition, Standard for Information Technology
60       --  Portable  Operating  System  Interface (POSIX), The Open Group Base
61       Specifications Issue 6, Copyright (C) 2001-2003  by  the  Institute  of
62       Electrical  and  Electronics  Engineers, Inc and The Open Group. In the
63       event of any discrepancy between this version and the original IEEE and
64       The  Open Group Standard, the original IEEE and The Open Group Standard
65       is the referee document. The original Standard can be  obtained  online
66       at http://www.opengroup.org/unix/online.html .
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70IEEE/The Open Group                  2003                             FREE(3P)
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