free(3)                                                         free(3)

  free()

  NAME

    free() - free up memory allocated with malloc, calloc or realloc

  SYNOPSIS

    #include 

    void free (void *ptr)

  DESCRIPTION

    The free(3) function causes the space pointed to by ptr to be deallocated,
    that is, made available for further allocation. If ptr is a NULL pointer,
    no action occurs. Otherwise, if the argument does not match a pointer
    earlier returned by the calloc(3), malloc(3), or realloc(3) function, or
    if the space has been deallocated by a call to free(3) or realloc(3),
    problems may result.

  RETURN VALUES

    The free(3) function returns no value.

  SEE ALSO

    calloc(3)

    malloc(3)

    realloc(3)

  USAGE NOTES

    The free function is thread safe.

    The free function is not async-signal safe.