Zig Allocators — Memory Management Strategies

DodaTech Updated 2026-06-29 1 min read

In this tutorial, you will learn about Zig Allocators. We cover key concepts, practical examples, and best practices to help you master this topic.

Zig makes memory allocation visible and explicit. Every allocation requires passing an allocator — no hidden malloc, no garbage collector.

Allocator Pattern

const std = @import("std");

pub fn main() !void {
    var gpa = std.heap.GeneralPurposeAllocator{};
    const allocator = gpa.allocator();

    // Allocate
    const arr = try allocator.alloc(i32, 10);
    defer allocator.free(arr);  // Guaranteed cleanup

    // Reallocate
    const bigger = try allocator.realloc(arr, 20);
    defer allocator.free(bigger);
}

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