Dynamic Allocation
Dynamic allocation is a programming concept where memory is allocated at runtime rather than compile-time, allowing programs to request and release memory as needed during execution. It enables flexible data structures like linked lists, trees, and dynamic arrays, and is essential for handling variable or unknown amounts of data. This contrasts with static allocation, where memory size is fixed at compile-time.
Developers should learn dynamic allocation for scenarios requiring memory efficiency and scalability, such as building applications with unpredictable data sizes (e.g., user input, file processing) or implementing complex data structures. It's crucial in languages like C and C++ for manual memory management, and understanding it helps prevent issues like memory leaks and fragmentation in performance-critical systems.