Memory allocation amount to stack and heap (c)

Question

I try to understand something about the amount of memory allocated to the stack and to the heap. Suppose sizeof(char) = 1 byte, and sizeof(void *) = 4 byte. given the following code:

#include<stdio.h> #include<stdlib.h> #include<string.h> int main() { int i; char *str1 = "hello"; char str2[] = "hello"; char *str3 = (char*)malloc(strlen(str2)); //free code return 0; }

We have been told that the amount of memory allocated to the heap is 5 bytes, and I understand that indeed this is the amount in the malloc (strlen(str2) = 5). But, what I don't understand is how the amount of memory allocated to the stack is 18 bytes? I thought that if they give us the information that a pointer size is 4 bytes, so we have 4 bytes for the pointer str1 and another 6 bytes for the array str2 (including the '/0'). What am I missing? where are the 18 bytes for the stack comes from? Thanks in advance for your help!

What about i and str3?

tkausl
– tkausl

2016-08-27 15:17:15 +00:00
Commented Aug 27, 2016 at 15:17 — tkausl
– tkausl, Commented Aug 27, 2016 at 15:17

Peter G. · Accepted Answer · 2016-08-27 15:23:30Z

int i; // 4 stack bytes char *str1 = "hello"; // 4 stack bytes (pointing to a read only string constant) char str2[] = "hello"; // 6 stack bytes (containing a 6 byte string) char *str3 = (char*)malloc(strlen(str2)); // 4 stack bytes (pointing to heap memory from malloc)

Total: 18 stack bytes

This is an idealistic calculation, the reality might be more complicated. It is still useful as a model for understanding memory.

@Vipasane: I extended the comments to address your remaining question

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