Learn English – “Release”, “free”, or “delete allocated memory”

differencesmeaningprogrammingterminologyverbs

  1. release the allocated memory.
  2. free the allocated memory.
  3. delete the allocated memory.

What are the differences between them?

Best Answer

Well, the differences have more to do with the computer language behind them. Delete is inappropriate. Assuming C++ or similar, an object is being deleted, and its associated memory is automatically freed thereafter. Free will be understood by any C-family programmer. Release probably will be too but when you are writing for a C audience, stick with C terminology. (Release is more often used with respect to a connection pool, an OS resource, but not memory—in C. In another language, your mileage may vary.)

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