malloc (memory allocation)

Malloc, short for "memory allocation," is a process in programming where a program requests a specific amount of memory from the computer to store data temporarily. Think of it like reserving a space in a storage room for your belongings. When your program needs to store information—like numbers, text, or data structures—it asks malloc for a designated space. Once done, it can use that space, and later, it frees it up when no longer needed. Malloc manages this dynamic memory allocation efficiently, ensuring the program has the right amount of space at the right time.