calloc - Reserve memory space

Definition	#include <stdlib.h> void *calloc(size_t n, size_t elsize); calloc provides contiguous memory space at execution time for an array with n elements, where each element requires elsize bytes. calloc initializes each element of the new array with binary zeros. calloc is part of a C-specific memory management package which internally manages requested and released memory areas. Wherever possible, new requests are met first from areas already being managed and only then by the operating system (cf. garbcoll function).
Return val.	Pointer to the new memory space
		if sufficient memory space is present.
	NULL pointer	if memory space does not suffice for the request.
Notes	The new data area begins on a doubleword boundary. To ensure that you are requesting the correct size for an array element, you should use the sizeof operator for the calculation of elsize. A serious disruption in working memory may be expected if the length of the memory area provided is exceeded when writing. If n or elsize has the value 0, calloc returns an unambiguous address which can also be transferred to free.
Example	The following program fragment requests memory space for 20 array elements of type long integer. #include <stdlib.h> long *long_array; . . long_array = (long *)calloc(20, sizeof(long));
See also	malloc, realloc, free, garbcoll