NAME

brk, sbrk − change data segment space allocation

SYNOPSIS

#include <unistd.h>

int brk(const void *endds);

void *sbrk(int incr);

DESCRIPTION

brk() and sbrk() are used to change dynamically the amount of space allocated for the calling process’s data segment; see exec(2). The change is made by resetting the process’s break value and allocating the appropriate amount of space. The break value is the address of the first location beyond the end of the data segment. The amount of allocated space increases as the break value increases. The newly allocated space is set to zero.

brk() sets the break value to endds and changes the allocated space accordingly. 

sbrk() adds incr bytes to the break value and changes the allocated space accordingly.  incr can be negative, in which case the amount of allocated space is decreased. 

ERRORS

brk() and sbrk() fail without making any change in the allocated space if one or more of the following are true:

[ENOMEM] Such a change would result in more space being allocated than is allowed by a system-imposed maximum (see ulimit(2)).

[ENOMEM] Such a change would cause a conflict between addresses in the data segment and any attached shared memory segment (see shmop(2)).

[ENOMEM] Such a change would be impossible as there is insufficient swap space available. 

WARNINGS

The pointer returned by sbrk() is not necessarily word-aligned.  Loading or storing words through this pointer could cause word alignment problems. 

Be very careful when using either brk or sbrk in conjunction with calls to the malloc(3C) library routines. There is only one program data segment from which all three of these routines allocate and deallocate program data memory.

RETURN VALUE

Upon successful completion, brk() returns a value of 0 and sbrk() returns the old break value.  Otherwise, a value of −1 is returned and errno is set to indicate the error. 

AUTHOR

brk() and sbrk() were developed by AT&T and HP. 

SEE ALSO

exec(2), shmop(2), ulimit(2), end(3C), malloc(3C). 

STANDARDS CONFORMANCE

brk(): XPG2

sbrk(): XPG2

Hewlett-Packard Company  —  HP-UX Release 10.20:  July 1996