images\info_sml.gifMAF: Memory Allocation Failure (Error Detection)

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An MAF message indicates that a memory allocation call failed. This message typically indicates that the program ran out of paging file space for a heap to grow. This message can also occur when a non-spreadable heap is saturated.

After Purify displays the MAF message, a memory allocation call returns NULL in the normal manner. Ideally, programs should handle allocation failures. If the program does not handle these failures, Purify typically generates a Null Pointer Read (NPR) or Null Pointer Write (NPW) message next, as the program attempts to dereference the NULL returned for the allocation failure.

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