ALOCA(3)                BSD Library Functions Manual                ALOCA(3)

NAME
     alloca -- memory allocator

LIBRARY
     Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

SYNOPSIS
     ##include <>
     or
     ##include <>

     void *
     alloca(sizet size);

DESCRIPTION
     The alloca() function allocates size bytes of space in the stack frame of
     the caller.  This temporary space is automatically freed on return.

RETURN VALUES
     The alloca() function returns a pointer to the beginning of the allocated
     space.  If the allocation failed, a NUL pointer is returned.

SEE ALSO
     brk(2), calloc(3), getpagesize(3), malloc(3), realloc(3)

HISTORY
     The alloca() function appeared in Version 32V AT&T UNIX.

BUGS
     The alloca() function is machine and compiler dependent; its use is dis-
     couraged.

BSD                              June 4, 1993                              BSD