When memory allocated with the C malloc function is no longer needed, that memory should be returned to the system immediately by calling the C __________ function.

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks which C function should be used to release memory previously allocated with malloc. Understanding the lifecycle of dynamic memory in C helps evaluate the options.
Option 1: delete. This is incorrect for C; delete is a keyword/operator used in C++ to deallocate memory allocated with new. It has no meaning in standard C, so it cannot be used with malloc’d memory in C programs.
Option 2: dealloc. This name resembles memory management terminology, but there is no standard C function called dealloc. Using such a function would be undefined unless a specific library provided it, which is not part of the C standard library.
Option 3: free. This is the correct choice. malloc allocates a block of memory, and free releases that exact block back to the system so it can be reused. It is the standard function for deallocating memory allocated by malloc, calloc, or realloc.
Option 4: return. In C, return is a control-flow statement used to exit a function and optionally provide a value. It is not related to memory deallocation and will not release heap memory allocated by malloc.
In summary, only free matches the standard approach to releasing memory obtained via malloc in C, while the other options refer to non-C syntax, non-standard functions, or control flow rather than deallocation.

When memory allocated with the C malloc function is no longer needed, that memory should be returned to the system immediately by calling the C __________ function.

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