malloc and free- C++

Question

I understand that malloc saves memory for some data, but what does it return?

And does free() just does the opposite? Deletes the data from the memory?

Answer 1

Docs explains best

malloc () : https://en.cppreference.com/w/c/memory/malloc

free () : https://en.cppreference.com/w/c/memory/free

Answer 2

malloc(): Allocates(registers) the amount of memory you requested. It returns the pointer to the memory that is allocated. The pointer is of type void*, so better cast it to the pointer type of your preference.

free(): it deallocates the memory that the pointer you pass is holding. It's like it says the compiler: "Hey, I got some memory that I got earlier from you, but I don't need it anymore. Here, this pointer points to that memory, so that you can find it :D"

Answer 3

Rishi so is it the same as using the "new" keyword and "delete" keyword?

Answer 4

Yeah almost the same