mirror of
				https://github.com/python/cpython.git
				synced 2025-11-04 03:44:55 +00:00 
			
		
		
		
	highlightlang is deprecated since April 2018 in Sphinx. See https://github.com/sphinx-doc/sphinx/pull/4845
		
			
				
	
	
		
			604 lines
		
	
	
	
		
			24 KiB
		
	
	
	
		
			ReStructuredText
		
	
	
	
	
	
			
		
		
	
	
			604 lines
		
	
	
	
		
			24 KiB
		
	
	
	
		
			ReStructuredText
		
	
	
	
	
	
.. highlight:: c
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. _memory:
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
*****************
 | 
						|
Memory Management
 | 
						|
*****************
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. sectionauthor:: Vladimir Marangozov <Vladimir.Marangozov@inrialpes.fr>
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. _memoryoverview:
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
Overview
 | 
						|
========
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
Memory management in Python involves a private heap containing all Python
 | 
						|
objects and data structures. The management of this private heap is ensured
 | 
						|
internally by the *Python memory manager*.  The Python memory manager has
 | 
						|
different components which deal with various dynamic storage management aspects,
 | 
						|
like sharing, segmentation, preallocation or caching.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
At the lowest level, a raw memory allocator ensures that there is enough room in
 | 
						|
the private heap for storing all Python-related data by interacting with the
 | 
						|
memory manager of the operating system. On top of the raw memory allocator,
 | 
						|
several object-specific allocators operate on the same heap and implement
 | 
						|
distinct memory management policies adapted to the peculiarities of every object
 | 
						|
type. For example, integer objects are managed differently within the heap than
 | 
						|
strings, tuples or dictionaries because integers imply different storage
 | 
						|
requirements and speed/space tradeoffs. The Python memory manager thus delegates
 | 
						|
some of the work to the object-specific allocators, but ensures that the latter
 | 
						|
operate within the bounds of the private heap.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
It is important to understand that the management of the Python heap is
 | 
						|
performed by the interpreter itself and that the user has no control over it,
 | 
						|
even if they regularly manipulate object pointers to memory blocks inside that
 | 
						|
heap.  The allocation of heap space for Python objects and other internal
 | 
						|
buffers is performed on demand by the Python memory manager through the Python/C
 | 
						|
API functions listed in this document.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. index::
 | 
						|
   single: malloc()
 | 
						|
   single: calloc()
 | 
						|
   single: realloc()
 | 
						|
   single: free()
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
To avoid memory corruption, extension writers should never try to operate on
 | 
						|
Python objects with the functions exported by the C library: :c:func:`malloc`,
 | 
						|
:c:func:`calloc`, :c:func:`realloc` and :c:func:`free`.  This will result in  mixed
 | 
						|
calls between the C allocator and the Python memory manager with fatal
 | 
						|
consequences, because they implement different algorithms and operate on
 | 
						|
different heaps.  However, one may safely allocate and release memory blocks
 | 
						|
with the C library allocator for individual purposes, as shown in the following
 | 
						|
example::
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   PyObject *res;
 | 
						|
   char *buf = (char *) malloc(BUFSIZ); /* for I/O */
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   if (buf == NULL)
 | 
						|
       return PyErr_NoMemory();
 | 
						|
   ...Do some I/O operation involving buf...
 | 
						|
   res = PyBytes_FromString(buf);
 | 
						|
   free(buf); /* malloc'ed */
 | 
						|
   return res;
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
In this example, the memory request for the I/O buffer is handled by the C
 | 
						|
library allocator. The Python memory manager is involved only in the allocation
 | 
						|
of the string object returned as a result.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
In most situations, however, it is recommended to allocate memory from the
 | 
						|
Python heap specifically because the latter is under control of the Python
 | 
						|
memory manager. For example, this is required when the interpreter is extended
 | 
						|
with new object types written in C. Another reason for using the Python heap is
 | 
						|
the desire to *inform* the Python memory manager about the memory needs of the
 | 
						|
extension module. Even when the requested memory is used exclusively for
 | 
						|
internal, highly-specific purposes, delegating all memory requests to the Python
 | 
						|
memory manager causes the interpreter to have a more accurate image of its
 | 
						|
memory footprint as a whole. Consequently, under certain circumstances, the
 | 
						|
Python memory manager may or may not trigger appropriate actions, like garbage
 | 
						|
collection, memory compaction or other preventive procedures. Note that by using
 | 
						|
the C library allocator as shown in the previous example, the allocated memory
 | 
						|
for the I/O buffer escapes completely the Python memory manager.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. seealso::
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   The :envvar:`PYTHONMALLOC` environment variable can be used to configure
 | 
						|
   the memory allocators used by Python.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   The :envvar:`PYTHONMALLOCSTATS` environment variable can be used to print
 | 
						|
   statistics of the :ref:`pymalloc memory allocator <pymalloc>` every time a
 | 
						|
   new pymalloc object arena is created, and on shutdown.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
Raw Memory Interface
 | 
						|
====================
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
The following function sets are wrappers to the system allocator. These
 | 
						|
functions are thread-safe, the :term:`GIL <global interpreter lock>` does not
 | 
						|
need to be held.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
The :ref:`default raw memory allocator <default-memory-allocators>` uses
 | 
						|
the following functions: :c:func:`malloc`, :c:func:`calloc`, :c:func:`realloc`
 | 
						|
and :c:func:`free`; call ``malloc(1)`` (or ``calloc(1, 1)``) when requesting
 | 
						|
zero bytes.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. versionadded:: 3.4
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: void* PyMem_RawMalloc(size_t n)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Allocates *n* bytes and returns a pointer of type :c:type:`void\*` to the
 | 
						|
   allocated memory, or *NULL* if the request fails.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Requesting zero bytes returns a distinct non-*NULL* pointer if possible, as
 | 
						|
   if ``PyMem_RawMalloc(1)`` had been called instead. The memory will not have
 | 
						|
   been initialized in any way.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: void* PyMem_RawCalloc(size_t nelem, size_t elsize)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Allocates *nelem* elements each whose size in bytes is *elsize* and returns
 | 
						|
   a pointer of type :c:type:`void\*` to the allocated memory, or *NULL* if the
 | 
						|
   request fails. The memory is initialized to zeros.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Requesting zero elements or elements of size zero bytes returns a distinct
 | 
						|
   non-*NULL* pointer if possible, as if ``PyMem_RawCalloc(1, 1)`` had been
 | 
						|
   called instead.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   .. versionadded:: 3.5
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: void* PyMem_RawRealloc(void *p, size_t n)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Resizes the memory block pointed to by *p* to *n* bytes. The contents will
 | 
						|
   be unchanged to the minimum of the old and the new sizes.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   If *p* is *NULL*, the call is equivalent to ``PyMem_RawMalloc(n)``; else if
 | 
						|
   *n* is equal to zero, the memory block is resized but is not freed, and the
 | 
						|
   returned pointer is non-*NULL*.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Unless *p* is *NULL*, it must have been returned by a previous call to
 | 
						|
   :c:func:`PyMem_RawMalloc`, :c:func:`PyMem_RawRealloc` or
 | 
						|
   :c:func:`PyMem_RawCalloc`.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   If the request fails, :c:func:`PyMem_RawRealloc` returns *NULL* and *p*
 | 
						|
   remains a valid pointer to the previous memory area.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: void PyMem_RawFree(void *p)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Frees the memory block pointed to by *p*, which must have been returned by a
 | 
						|
   previous call to :c:func:`PyMem_RawMalloc`, :c:func:`PyMem_RawRealloc` or
 | 
						|
   :c:func:`PyMem_RawCalloc`.  Otherwise, or if ``PyMem_RawFree(p)`` has been
 | 
						|
   called before, undefined behavior occurs.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   If *p* is *NULL*, no operation is performed.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. _memoryinterface:
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
Memory Interface
 | 
						|
================
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
The following function sets, modeled after the ANSI C standard, but specifying
 | 
						|
behavior when requesting zero bytes, are available for allocating and releasing
 | 
						|
memory from the Python heap.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
The :ref:`default memory allocator <default-memory-allocators>` uses the
 | 
						|
:ref:`pymalloc memory allocator <pymalloc>`.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. warning::
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   The :term:`GIL <global interpreter lock>` must be held when using these
 | 
						|
   functions.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. versionchanged:: 3.6
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   The default allocator is now pymalloc instead of system :c:func:`malloc`.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: void* PyMem_Malloc(size_t n)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Allocates *n* bytes and returns a pointer of type :c:type:`void\*` to the
 | 
						|
   allocated memory, or *NULL* if the request fails.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Requesting zero bytes returns a distinct non-*NULL* pointer if possible, as
 | 
						|
   if ``PyMem_Malloc(1)`` had been called instead. The memory will not have
 | 
						|
   been initialized in any way.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: void* PyMem_Calloc(size_t nelem, size_t elsize)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Allocates *nelem* elements each whose size in bytes is *elsize* and returns
 | 
						|
   a pointer of type :c:type:`void\*` to the allocated memory, or *NULL* if the
 | 
						|
   request fails. The memory is initialized to zeros.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Requesting zero elements or elements of size zero bytes returns a distinct
 | 
						|
   non-*NULL* pointer if possible, as if ``PyMem_Calloc(1, 1)`` had been called
 | 
						|
   instead.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   .. versionadded:: 3.5
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: void* PyMem_Realloc(void *p, size_t n)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Resizes the memory block pointed to by *p* to *n* bytes. The contents will be
 | 
						|
   unchanged to the minimum of the old and the new sizes.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   If *p* is *NULL*, the call is equivalent to ``PyMem_Malloc(n)``; else if *n*
 | 
						|
   is equal to zero, the memory block is resized but is not freed, and the
 | 
						|
   returned pointer is non-*NULL*.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Unless *p* is *NULL*, it must have been returned by a previous call to
 | 
						|
   :c:func:`PyMem_Malloc`, :c:func:`PyMem_Realloc` or :c:func:`PyMem_Calloc`.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   If the request fails, :c:func:`PyMem_Realloc` returns *NULL* and *p* remains
 | 
						|
   a valid pointer to the previous memory area.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: void PyMem_Free(void *p)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Frees the memory block pointed to by *p*, which must have been returned by a
 | 
						|
   previous call to :c:func:`PyMem_Malloc`, :c:func:`PyMem_Realloc` or
 | 
						|
   :c:func:`PyMem_Calloc`.  Otherwise, or if ``PyMem_Free(p)`` has been called
 | 
						|
   before, undefined behavior occurs.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   If *p* is *NULL*, no operation is performed.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
The following type-oriented macros are provided for convenience.  Note  that
 | 
						|
*TYPE* refers to any C type.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: TYPE* PyMem_New(TYPE, size_t n)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Same as :c:func:`PyMem_Malloc`, but allocates ``(n * sizeof(TYPE))`` bytes of
 | 
						|
   memory.  Returns a pointer cast to :c:type:`TYPE\*`.  The memory will not have
 | 
						|
   been initialized in any way.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: TYPE* PyMem_Resize(void *p, TYPE, size_t n)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Same as :c:func:`PyMem_Realloc`, but the memory block is resized to ``(n *
 | 
						|
   sizeof(TYPE))`` bytes.  Returns a pointer cast to :c:type:`TYPE\*`. On return,
 | 
						|
   *p* will be a pointer to the new memory area, or *NULL* in the event of
 | 
						|
   failure.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   This is a C preprocessor macro; *p* is always reassigned.  Save the original
 | 
						|
   value of *p* to avoid losing memory when handling errors.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: void PyMem_Del(void *p)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Same as :c:func:`PyMem_Free`.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
In addition, the following macro sets are provided for calling the Python memory
 | 
						|
allocator directly, without involving the C API functions listed above. However,
 | 
						|
note that their use does not preserve binary compatibility across Python
 | 
						|
versions and is therefore deprecated in extension modules.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
* ``PyMem_MALLOC(size)``
 | 
						|
* ``PyMem_NEW(type, size)``
 | 
						|
* ``PyMem_REALLOC(ptr, size)``
 | 
						|
* ``PyMem_RESIZE(ptr, type, size)``
 | 
						|
* ``PyMem_FREE(ptr)``
 | 
						|
* ``PyMem_DEL(ptr)``
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
Object allocators
 | 
						|
=================
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
The following function sets, modeled after the ANSI C standard, but specifying
 | 
						|
behavior when requesting zero bytes, are available for allocating and releasing
 | 
						|
memory from the Python heap.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
The :ref:`default object allocator <default-memory-allocators>` uses the
 | 
						|
:ref:`pymalloc memory allocator <pymalloc>`.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. warning::
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   The :term:`GIL <global interpreter lock>` must be held when using these
 | 
						|
   functions.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: void* PyObject_Malloc(size_t n)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Allocates *n* bytes and returns a pointer of type :c:type:`void\*` to the
 | 
						|
   allocated memory, or *NULL* if the request fails.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Requesting zero bytes returns a distinct non-*NULL* pointer if possible, as
 | 
						|
   if ``PyObject_Malloc(1)`` had been called instead. The memory will not have
 | 
						|
   been initialized in any way.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: void* PyObject_Calloc(size_t nelem, size_t elsize)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Allocates *nelem* elements each whose size in bytes is *elsize* and returns
 | 
						|
   a pointer of type :c:type:`void\*` to the allocated memory, or *NULL* if the
 | 
						|
   request fails. The memory is initialized to zeros.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Requesting zero elements or elements of size zero bytes returns a distinct
 | 
						|
   non-*NULL* pointer if possible, as if ``PyObject_Calloc(1, 1)`` had been called
 | 
						|
   instead.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   .. versionadded:: 3.5
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: void* PyObject_Realloc(void *p, size_t n)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Resizes the memory block pointed to by *p* to *n* bytes. The contents will be
 | 
						|
   unchanged to the minimum of the old and the new sizes.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   If *p* is *NULL*, the call is equivalent to ``PyObject_Malloc(n)``; else if *n*
 | 
						|
   is equal to zero, the memory block is resized but is not freed, and the
 | 
						|
   returned pointer is non-*NULL*.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Unless *p* is *NULL*, it must have been returned by a previous call to
 | 
						|
   :c:func:`PyObject_Malloc`, :c:func:`PyObject_Realloc` or :c:func:`PyObject_Calloc`.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   If the request fails, :c:func:`PyObject_Realloc` returns *NULL* and *p* remains
 | 
						|
   a valid pointer to the previous memory area.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: void PyObject_Free(void *p)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Frees the memory block pointed to by *p*, which must have been returned by a
 | 
						|
   previous call to :c:func:`PyObject_Malloc`, :c:func:`PyObject_Realloc` or
 | 
						|
   :c:func:`PyObject_Calloc`.  Otherwise, or if ``PyObject_Free(p)`` has been called
 | 
						|
   before, undefined behavior occurs.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   If *p* is *NULL*, no operation is performed.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. _default-memory-allocators:
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
Default Memory Allocators
 | 
						|
=========================
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
Default memory allocators:
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
===============================  ====================  ==================  =====================  ====================
 | 
						|
Configuration                    Name                  PyMem_RawMalloc     PyMem_Malloc           PyObject_Malloc
 | 
						|
===============================  ====================  ==================  =====================  ====================
 | 
						|
Release build                    ``"pymalloc"``        ``malloc``          ``pymalloc``           ``pymalloc``
 | 
						|
Debug build                      ``"pymalloc_debug"``  ``malloc`` + debug  ``pymalloc`` + debug   ``pymalloc`` + debug
 | 
						|
Release build, without pymalloc  ``"malloc"``          ``malloc``          ``malloc``             ``malloc``
 | 
						|
Debug build, without pymalloc    ``"malloc_debug"``    ``malloc`` + debug  ``malloc`` + debug     ``malloc`` + debug
 | 
						|
===============================  ====================  ==================  =====================  ====================
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
Legend:
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
* Name: value for :envvar:`PYTHONMALLOC` environment variable
 | 
						|
* ``malloc``: system allocators from the standard C library, C functions:
 | 
						|
  :c:func:`malloc`, :c:func:`calloc`, :c:func:`realloc` and :c:func:`free`
 | 
						|
* ``pymalloc``: :ref:`pymalloc memory allocator <pymalloc>`
 | 
						|
* "+ debug": with debug hooks installed by :c:func:`PyMem_SetupDebugHooks`
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
Customize Memory Allocators
 | 
						|
===========================
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. versionadded:: 3.4
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:type:: PyMemAllocatorEx
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Structure used to describe a memory block allocator. The structure has
 | 
						|
   four fields:
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   +----------------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
 | 
						|
   | Field                                                    | Meaning                               |
 | 
						|
   +==========================================================+=======================================+
 | 
						|
   | ``void *ctx``                                            | user context passed as first argument |
 | 
						|
   +----------------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
 | 
						|
   | ``void* malloc(void *ctx, size_t size)``                 | allocate a memory block               |
 | 
						|
   +----------------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
 | 
						|
   | ``void* calloc(void *ctx, size_t nelem, size_t elsize)`` | allocate a memory block initialized   |
 | 
						|
   |                                                          | with zeros                            |
 | 
						|
   +----------------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
 | 
						|
   | ``void* realloc(void *ctx, void *ptr, size_t new_size)`` | allocate or resize a memory block     |
 | 
						|
   +----------------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
 | 
						|
   | ``void free(void *ctx, void *ptr)``                      | free a memory block                   |
 | 
						|
   +----------------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   .. versionchanged:: 3.5
 | 
						|
      The :c:type:`PyMemAllocator` structure was renamed to
 | 
						|
      :c:type:`PyMemAllocatorEx` and a new ``calloc`` field was added.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:type:: PyMemAllocatorDomain
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Enum used to identify an allocator domain. Domains:
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   .. c:var:: PYMEM_DOMAIN_RAW
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
      Functions:
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
      * :c:func:`PyMem_RawMalloc`
 | 
						|
      * :c:func:`PyMem_RawRealloc`
 | 
						|
      * :c:func:`PyMem_RawCalloc`
 | 
						|
      * :c:func:`PyMem_RawFree`
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   .. c:var:: PYMEM_DOMAIN_MEM
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
      Functions:
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
      * :c:func:`PyMem_Malloc`,
 | 
						|
      * :c:func:`PyMem_Realloc`
 | 
						|
      * :c:func:`PyMem_Calloc`
 | 
						|
      * :c:func:`PyMem_Free`
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   .. c:var:: PYMEM_DOMAIN_OBJ
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
      Functions:
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
      * :c:func:`PyObject_Malloc`
 | 
						|
      * :c:func:`PyObject_Realloc`
 | 
						|
      * :c:func:`PyObject_Calloc`
 | 
						|
      * :c:func:`PyObject_Free`
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: void PyMem_GetAllocator(PyMemAllocatorDomain domain, PyMemAllocatorEx *allocator)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Get the memory block allocator of the specified domain.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: void PyMem_SetAllocator(PyMemAllocatorDomain domain, PyMemAllocatorEx *allocator)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Set the memory block allocator of the specified domain.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   The new allocator must return a distinct non-NULL pointer when requesting
 | 
						|
   zero bytes.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   For the :c:data:`PYMEM_DOMAIN_RAW` domain, the allocator must be
 | 
						|
   thread-safe: the :term:`GIL <global interpreter lock>` is not held when the
 | 
						|
   allocator is called.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   If the new allocator is not a hook (does not call the previous allocator),
 | 
						|
   the :c:func:`PyMem_SetupDebugHooks` function must be called to reinstall the
 | 
						|
   debug hooks on top on the new allocator.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: void PyMem_SetupDebugHooks(void)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Setup hooks to detect bugs in the Python memory allocator functions.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Newly allocated memory is filled with the byte ``0xCD`` (``CLEANBYTE``),
 | 
						|
   freed memory is filled with the byte ``0xDD`` (``DEADBYTE``). Memory blocks
 | 
						|
   are surrounded by "forbidden bytes" (``FORBIDDENBYTE``: byte ``0xFD``).
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Runtime checks:
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   - Detect API violations, ex: :c:func:`PyObject_Free` called on a buffer
 | 
						|
     allocated by :c:func:`PyMem_Malloc`
 | 
						|
   - Detect write before the start of the buffer (buffer underflow)
 | 
						|
   - Detect write after the end of the buffer (buffer overflow)
 | 
						|
   - Check that the :term:`GIL <global interpreter lock>` is held when
 | 
						|
     allocator functions of :c:data:`PYMEM_DOMAIN_OBJ` (ex:
 | 
						|
     :c:func:`PyObject_Malloc`) and :c:data:`PYMEM_DOMAIN_MEM` (ex:
 | 
						|
     :c:func:`PyMem_Malloc`) domains are called
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   On error, the debug hooks use the :mod:`tracemalloc` module to get the
 | 
						|
   traceback where a memory block was allocated. The traceback is only
 | 
						|
   displayed if :mod:`tracemalloc` is tracing Python memory allocations and the
 | 
						|
   memory block was traced.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   These hooks are :ref:`installed by default <default-memory-allocators>` if
 | 
						|
   Python is compiled in debug
 | 
						|
   mode. The :envvar:`PYTHONMALLOC` environment variable can be used to install
 | 
						|
   debug hooks on a Python compiled in release mode.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   .. versionchanged:: 3.6
 | 
						|
      This function now also works on Python compiled in release mode.
 | 
						|
      On error, the debug hooks now use :mod:`tracemalloc` to get the traceback
 | 
						|
      where a memory block was allocated. The debug hooks now also check
 | 
						|
      if the GIL is held when functions of :c:data:`PYMEM_DOMAIN_OBJ` and
 | 
						|
      :c:data:`PYMEM_DOMAIN_MEM` domains are called.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   .. versionchanged:: 3.8.0
 | 
						|
      Byte patterns ``0xCB`` (``CLEANBYTE``), ``0xDB`` (``DEADBYTE``) and
 | 
						|
      ``0xFB`` (``FORBIDDENBYTE``) have been replaced with ``0xCD``, ``0xDD``
 | 
						|
      and ``0xFD`` to use the same values than Windows CRT debug ``malloc()``
 | 
						|
      and ``free()``.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. _pymalloc:
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
The pymalloc allocator
 | 
						|
======================
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
Python has a *pymalloc* allocator optimized for small objects (smaller or equal
 | 
						|
to 512 bytes) with a short lifetime. It uses memory mappings called "arenas"
 | 
						|
with a fixed size of 256 KiB. It falls back to :c:func:`PyMem_RawMalloc` and
 | 
						|
:c:func:`PyMem_RawRealloc` for allocations larger than 512 bytes.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
*pymalloc* is the :ref:`default allocator <default-memory-allocators>` of the
 | 
						|
:c:data:`PYMEM_DOMAIN_MEM` (ex: :c:func:`PyMem_Malloc`) and
 | 
						|
:c:data:`PYMEM_DOMAIN_OBJ` (ex: :c:func:`PyObject_Malloc`) domains.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
The arena allocator uses the following functions:
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
* :c:func:`VirtualAlloc` and :c:func:`VirtualFree` on Windows,
 | 
						|
* :c:func:`mmap` and :c:func:`munmap` if available,
 | 
						|
* :c:func:`malloc` and :c:func:`free` otherwise.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
Customize pymalloc Arena Allocator
 | 
						|
----------------------------------
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. versionadded:: 3.4
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:type:: PyObjectArenaAllocator
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Structure used to describe an arena allocator. The structure has
 | 
						|
   three fields:
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   +--------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
 | 
						|
   | Field                                            | Meaning                               |
 | 
						|
   +==================================================+=======================================+
 | 
						|
   | ``void *ctx``                                    | user context passed as first argument |
 | 
						|
   +--------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
 | 
						|
   | ``void* alloc(void *ctx, size_t size)``          | allocate an arena of size bytes       |
 | 
						|
   +--------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
 | 
						|
   | ``void free(void *ctx, size_t size, void *ptr)`` | free an arena                         |
 | 
						|
   +--------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: PyObject_GetArenaAllocator(PyObjectArenaAllocator *allocator)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Get the arena allocator.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function:: PyObject_SetArenaAllocator(PyObjectArenaAllocator *allocator)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Set the arena allocator.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
tracemalloc C API
 | 
						|
=================
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. versionadded:: 3.7
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function: int PyTraceMalloc_Track(unsigned int domain, uintptr_t ptr, size_t size)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Track an allocated memory block in the :mod:`tracemalloc` module.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Return ``0`` on success, return ``-1`` on error (failed to allocate memory to
 | 
						|
   store the trace). Return ``-2`` if tracemalloc is disabled.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   If memory block is already tracked, update the existing trace.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. c:function: int PyTraceMalloc_Untrack(unsigned int domain, uintptr_t ptr)
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Untrack an allocated memory block in the :mod:`tracemalloc` module.
 | 
						|
   Do nothing if the block was not tracked.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   Return ``-2`` if tracemalloc is disabled, otherwise return ``0``.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
.. _memoryexamples:
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
Examples
 | 
						|
========
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
Here is the example from section :ref:`memoryoverview`, rewritten so that the
 | 
						|
I/O buffer is allocated from the Python heap by using the first function set::
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   PyObject *res;
 | 
						|
   char *buf = (char *) PyMem_Malloc(BUFSIZ); /* for I/O */
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   if (buf == NULL)
 | 
						|
       return PyErr_NoMemory();
 | 
						|
   /* ...Do some I/O operation involving buf... */
 | 
						|
   res = PyBytes_FromString(buf);
 | 
						|
   PyMem_Free(buf); /* allocated with PyMem_Malloc */
 | 
						|
   return res;
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
The same code using the type-oriented function set::
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   PyObject *res;
 | 
						|
   char *buf = PyMem_New(char, BUFSIZ); /* for I/O */
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   if (buf == NULL)
 | 
						|
       return PyErr_NoMemory();
 | 
						|
   /* ...Do some I/O operation involving buf... */
 | 
						|
   res = PyBytes_FromString(buf);
 | 
						|
   PyMem_Del(buf); /* allocated with PyMem_New */
 | 
						|
   return res;
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
Note that in the two examples above, the buffer is always manipulated via
 | 
						|
functions belonging to the same set. Indeed, it is required to use the same
 | 
						|
memory API family for a given memory block, so that the risk of mixing different
 | 
						|
allocators is reduced to a minimum. The following code sequence contains two
 | 
						|
errors, one of which is labeled as *fatal* because it mixes two different
 | 
						|
allocators operating on different heaps. ::
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
   char *buf1 = PyMem_New(char, BUFSIZ);
 | 
						|
   char *buf2 = (char *) malloc(BUFSIZ);
 | 
						|
   char *buf3 = (char *) PyMem_Malloc(BUFSIZ);
 | 
						|
   ...
 | 
						|
   PyMem_Del(buf3);  /* Wrong -- should be PyMem_Free() */
 | 
						|
   free(buf2);       /* Right -- allocated via malloc() */
 | 
						|
   free(buf1);       /* Fatal -- should be PyMem_Del()  */
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
In addition to the functions aimed at handling raw memory blocks from the Python
 | 
						|
heap, objects in Python are allocated and released with :c:func:`PyObject_New`,
 | 
						|
:c:func:`PyObject_NewVar` and :c:func:`PyObject_Del`.
 | 
						|
 | 
						|
These will be explained in the next chapter on defining and implementing new
 | 
						|
object types in C.
 | 
						|
 |