Zig Toolbox

Examples

Zig Memory Allocator

Building a Custom Allocator

Zig custom allocator manages memory with ArenaAllocator.

Introduction to Zig Memory Allocator

The Zig programming language provides a flexible and efficient way to handle memory allocation through custom allocators. One of the commonly used allocators in Zig is the ArenaAllocator. This allocator is particularly useful when you need to allocate a lot of small objects that share the same lifetime.

What is ArenaAllocator?

An ArenaAllocator is a simple memory allocator that allocates memory from a large block and does not free individual allocations until the entire arena is reset or destroyed. This approach is useful for scenarios where you can free all allocated memory at once.

Using ArenaAllocator in Zig

To use an ArenaAllocator in Zig, you start by importing the necessary modules and initializing the allocator. Here’s a basic example to demonstrate its usage:

Advantages of Using ArenaAllocator

The ArenaAllocator offers several advantages:

  • Efficiency: Allocation is fast as it only involves pointer arithmetic.
  • Simplicity: Memory is freed in bulk, reducing overhead.
  • Suitable for batch allocations: Ideal when you have predictable allocation and deallocation patterns.

When to Use ArenaAllocator

ArenaAllocator is best used in scenarios where:

  • You need to allocate a large number of small objects.
  • All objects have the same lifetime and can be destroyed at once.
  • You want to minimize the cost of individual deallocations.

Conclusion

In summary, the ArenaAllocator in Zig provides an efficient way to handle memory allocations where objects share a common lifetime. By understanding and utilizing this allocator, you can optimize memory usage in your applications effectively.

Examples