Difference Between Stack-Allocated and Heap-Allocated Arrays
The following table illustrates the key differences between stack-allocated and heap-allocated arrays.
| Parameter | Stack Allocated Arrays | Heap Allocated Arrays |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Memory is allocated in a contiguous block. | Memory is allocated in any random order. |
| Allocation and De-allocation | Automatic by compiler instructions. | Manually by the programmer. |
| Cost | Less | More |
| Implementation | Straightforward and managed by the compiler. | Explicit managed by the programmer |
| Access time | Faster | Slower |
| Main Issue | Shortage of memory | Memory fragmentation |
| Locality of reference | Excellent | Adequate |
| Safety | Thread safe, data stored can only be accessed by the owner. | Not Thread safe, data stored visible to all threads. |
| Flexibility | Fixed-size. | Resizing is possible. |
| Data type structure | Linear | Hierarchical |
| Preferred | Static memory allocation is preferred in an array. | Heap memory allocation is preferred in the linked list. |
| Size | Small than heap memory. | Larger than stack memory. |
Difference Between Stack-Allocated and Heap-Allocated Arrays
In C/C++, arrays can be allocated in two areas of memory: the stack and the heap. Each has its own characteristics and use cases. In this article, we will see the key differences between stack-allocated and heap-allocated arrays.