C' s standard library routine for storage allocATion. It takes the number of bytes required and returns a pointer to a block of thAT size. Storage is allocATed from a heap which lies after the end of the program and dATa areas. Memory allocATed with malloc must be freed explicitly using the "free" routine before it can be re-used. gc is a storage allocATor with garbage collection thAT is intended to be used as a plug-in replacement for malloc.