Dynamic Memory Allocation
Dynamic memory allocation is a programming concept that allows programs to request and manage memory at runtime, rather than at compile time. It enables flexible data structures like linked lists and dynamic arrays by allocating memory from the heap as needed. This is essential for handling variable amounts of data and optimizing resource usage in applications.
Developers should learn dynamic memory allocation when building applications that require efficient memory management, such as operating systems, game engines, or data-intensive software. It's crucial for avoiding memory leaks and fragmentation, and for implementing data structures that grow or shrink dynamically. Use cases include real-time systems, embedded programming, and any scenario where memory usage is unpredictable.