_CrtSetAllocHook

Installs a client-defined allocation function by hooking it into the C run-time debug memory allocation process (debug version only).

Syntax

_CRT_ALLOC_HOOK _CrtSetAllocHook(
   _CRT_ALLOC_HOOK allocHook
);

Parameters

allocHook
New client-defined allocation function to hook into the C run-time debug memory allocation process.

Return value

Returns the previously defined allocation hook function, or NULL if allocHook is NULL.

Remarks

_CrtSetAllocHook allows an application to hook its own allocation function into the C run-time debug library memory allocation process. As a result, every call to a debug allocation function to allocate, reallocate, or free a memory block triggers a call to the application's hook function. _CrtSetAllocHook provides an application with an easy method for testing how the application handles insufficient memory situations, the ability to examine allocation patterns, and the opportunity to log allocation information for later analysis. When _DEBUG isn't defined, calls to _CrtSetAllocHook are removed during preprocessing.

The _CrtSetAllocHook function installs the new client-defined allocation function specified in allocHook and returns the previously defined hook function. The following example demonstrates how a client-defined allocation hook should be prototyped:

int YourAllocHook( int allocType, void *userData, size_t size,
                   int blockType, long requestNumber,
                   const unsigned char *filename, int lineNumber);

The allocType argument specifies the type of allocation operation (_HOOK_ALLOC, _HOOK_REALLOC, and _HOOK_FREE) that triggered the call to the allocation's hook function. When the triggering allocation type is _HOOK_FREE, userData is a pointer to the user data section of the memory block about to be freed. However, when the triggering allocation type is _HOOK_ALLOC or _HOOK_REALLOC, userData is NULL because the memory block hasn't been allocated yet.

size specifies the size of the memory block in bytes, blockType indicates the type of the memory block, requestNumber is the object allocation order number of the memory block, and, if available, filename and lineNumber specify the source file name and line number where the triggering allocation operation was initiated.

After the hook function has finished processing, it must return a Boolean value, which tells the main C run-time allocation process how to continue. When the hook function wants the main allocation process to continue as if the hook function had never been called, then the hook function should return TRUE, which causes the original triggering allocation operation to be executed. The hook function can gather and save allocation information for later analysis, without interfering with the current allocation operation or state of the debug heap.

When the hook function wants the main allocation process to continue as if the triggering allocation operation was called and it failed, then the hook function should return FALSE. The hook function can simulate a wide range of memory conditions and debug heap states to test how the application handles each situation.

To clear the hook function, pass NULL to _CrtSetAllocHook.

For more information about how _CrtSetAllocHook can be used with other memory management functions or how to write your own client-defined hook functions, see Debug hook function writing.

Note

_CrtSetAllocHook is not supported under /clr:pure. The /clr:pure and /clr:safe compiler options are deprecated in Visual Studio 2015 and removed in Visual Studio 2017.

Requirements

Routine Required header
_CrtSetAllocHook <crtdbg.h>

For more compatibility information, see Compatibility.

Libraries

Debug versions of C run-time libraries only.

Example

For a sample of how to use _CrtSetAllocHook, see crt_dbg2.

See also

Debug routines
_CrtGetAllocHook