What is the Difference Between calloc and malloc?

The main differences between calloc and malloc are as follows:

1. Memory initialization: malloc does not initialize the allocated memory, leaving it with garbage values, while calloc initializes the memory to zero.
2. Number of arguments: malloc takes one argument (the size of the memory block) and calloc takes two arguments (the number of blocks and the size of each block).
3. Speed: malloc is generally faster than calloc due to the additional initialization step in calloc.
4. Time efficiency: malloc has higher time efficiency compared to calloc.

In summary, malloc is used for allocating dynamic memory without initializing it, while calloc is used for allocating and initializing memory to zero. The choice between the two depends on the specific requirements of the programming task at hand. If the memory needs to be initialized to zero, calloc should be used. If the memory will be initialized immediately after allocation, malloc might be more efficient.

Comparative Table: calloc vs malloc

Here is a table comparing the differences between calloc and malloc:

In summary, calloc is used to allocate multiple blocks of memory and initialize them to zero, while malloc is used to allocate a single block of memory without initializing it. calloc is generally slower and less time efficient than malloc.