An article explaining the difference between golang heap and stack in detail

The difference between Golang heap and stack

In Golang, heap and stack are two concepts that are often mentioned. Understanding their differences and usage scenarios will help us better program and code optimization in Golang. This article will delve into the concepts, differences and usage of Golang heap and stack.

1. The concepts of heap and stack

Heap and stack are two key concepts in memory management. They are two basic data structures in computer memory that are used to store and allocate memory space.

Stack is a "first in, last out" (LIFO) data structure, which can be understood as a special container for storing data. In the stack, data access follows the last-in-first-out principle. Every time data is accessed, the data is stored on the top of the stack. For example, process calls, the creation and destruction of local variables are all managed using the stack.

The heap is a memory pool allocated on demand, and its allocation and recycling are very flexible. In the heap, data is stored in the order and manner of insertion, and the time to access this data is uncertain. Because it does not have a strict storage structure, it is named "heap".

2. Heap and stack in Golang

In Golang, the heap and stack are also the two basic models of memory management. Unlike the C language, the heap and stack in Golang are automatically created and managed by the compiler for us.

The stack is mainly used in Golang for function calls, storage of local variables and parameters. When the function returns, the data in the stack is automatically deleted.

The heap is mainly used to dynamically allocate memory in Golang, such as when using new or make. Golang's garbage collection mechanism is responsible for managing the reclamation of heap space and ensuring that no objects occupy it. Due to Golang's automatic garbage collection mechanism, this makes Golang program development more convenient and efficient.

3. The difference between heap and stack

The biggest difference between heap and stack is the different way they manage the data stored in memory. The stack stores data in a first-in, last-out manner, while the heap stores data in a higher-level manner. Specifically, the heap can be dynamically allocated, so the heap can store data from multiple programs as needed, while the stack can only store the data needed to currently execute the function in the program.

In addition, there are some differences in memory management between heap and stack. When storing data into the heap, we need to use new or make to dynamically allocate memory. When storing data on the stack, the required space is determined by the compiler at compile time, and memory is simply allocated. This approach makes memory allocation and deallocation in the heap more expensive and requires more time and resources.

4. Usage scenarios

In Golang, heap and stack have different usage scenarios.

The main scenario for using the stack is to allocate memory for the currently called function, because this data is no longer needed after the function is executed. In Golang, the stack is used to store function parameters, return values ​​and local variables.

The main scenario for using the heap is when the size of the data is uncertain or needs to be shared between different functions. In Golang, use new or make to dynamically allocate space to create objects or slices and allocate space in the heap.

5. Conclusion

Heap and stack are the basic memory management concepts in Golang programming. Understanding the differences and usage scenarios between them can help us write Golang code better and optimize more efficiently.

In short, the stack is faster than the heap, and the heap can store larger data. In Golang, the scenarios for using stack and heap are different, and the way of using heap and stack is different from that in C language. Using appropriate memory management strategies can greatly improve program performance and efficiency.

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