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BRK(2) System Calls Manual BRK(2) NAME brk, sbrk - change core allocation SYNOPSIS int brk(addr) char *addr; char *sbrk(incr) DESCRIPTION Brk sets the system's idea of the lowest location not used by the pro- gram (called the break) to addr rounded up to the next multiple of 1024 bytes. Locations not less than addr and below the stack pointer may cause a memory violation if accessed. In the alternate function sbrk, incr more bytes are added to the pro- gram's data space and a pointer to the start of the new area is re- turned. Rounding occurs as with brk, but a nominal break is remem- bered, so rounding does not accumulate. When a program begins execution via exec the break is set at the high- est location defined by the program and data storage areas. Ordinar- ily, therefore, only programs with growing data areas need to use brk. The error return from sbrk is (char *)-1. SEE ALSO exec(2), end(3), malloc(3) DIAGNOSTICS ENOMEM BRK(2)