Implementing a dynamic array

Dynamic arrays are similar to static arrays in the sense that they allow easy reading, insertion, or modification of elements by referring to them using their index within the array. However, unlike static arrays, dynamic arrays implement a mechanism to dynamically increase or decrease their memory as needed.

Table of contents

• Basic Operations
  1. Creating a dynamic array
  2. Destroying a dynamic array
  3. Pushing to a dynamic array
  4. Popping an element from a dynamic array
• Testing the happy path
• Source code of this example

Basic operations

To implement a basic dynamic array, we need to maintain information about the maximum reserved space, the number of elements already stored, and a resizing strategy for the underlying data structure.

A struct that includes a pointer to an array, along with two integers representing the capacity and number of elements, is sufficient to start. The following snippet shows the aforementioned structure and the function signatures for the essential operations we need to support.

typedef struct { int32_t* collection; u_int32_t capacity; u_int32_t size; } D_array; D_array* CreateDynamicArray(uint32_t capacity); bool DestroyDynamicArray(D_array**); bool Push(D_array* array, int32_t val); bool Pop(D_array* array, int32_t* returnValue); bool IsEmpty(D_array* array); 

In this example, we will focus on supporting the Push and Pop. operations for the dynamic array. Directly accessing data using array->collection[i].
will be allowed, although it is considered unsafe. It's worth noting that more advanced implementations of dynamic arrays may include additional functions such as getSlice, filter, map, getElement. However, these functionalities are beyond the scope of this article.

Creating a dynamic array

To create a dynamic array, we will utilize a constructor function that encapsulates the underlying implementation, ensuring safety and consistency across instantiations.

The constructor function will receive the size of the array as a parameter. It will attempt to create an array and check if the creation is successful. Subsequently, the appropriate size will be allocated for the remaining struct components. Finally, we will set up the struct to ensure it is ready for use. The implementation is as follows:

// The capacity will be given by the caller context D_array* CreateDynamicArray(uint32_t capacity) { // We will start trying to allocate thearray first int32_t* collection = (int32_t*)calloc(capacity, sizeof(int32_t)); // If the step above couldn't be done, we will not procceed if (collection == NULL) { return NULL; } // If the array was allocated, we continue with the struct D_array* array = (D_array*)malloc(sizeof(D_array)); // Same as the array, we check if everything went ok if (array == NULL) { // in case it didn't we free the collection and return free(collection); return NULL; } // If everything went ok, we continue assigning each field array->collection = collection; array->size = 0; array->capacity = capacity; return array; } 

Destroying a dynamic array

In order to destroy the array, we need to free both the underlying collection and the struct. To maintain a clean and tidy process, we will begin by freeing the space that was reserved for the underlying collection. If we were to free the struct first, there is a possibility of losing the reference to the array and causing a memory leak.

In the following snippet, you can find a possible implementation:

// We pass a pointer to a pointer to the dynamic array bool DestroyDynamicArray(D_array** array) { // as we want to free the original pointer, we dereference it D_array* arr = *array; // if it was null, we can return if (arr == NULL) { return false; } // if the underlying collection exists we just free it if (arr->collection != NULL) { free(arr->collection); } // finally we free the array free(arr); return true; } 

Since arguments are passed by value, we don't accept just a pointer to a dynamic array; instead, we accept a pointer to a pointer to that array. If we were to only receive a pointer to a dynamic array, the operation free(arr) would not affect the original pointer itself. By accepting a pointer to a pointer, we ensure that we can modify the original pointer and free the memory correctly.

Pushing to a dynamic array

To push to a dynamic array, we first confirm that the struct and the collection exist. Next, we check if a resize is necessary, perform the resize if needed, and finally update the array and counters accordingly. Here's an example implementation:

// we receive the array and the value we want to store bool Push(D_array* array, int32_t val) { // we check if the struct and the underlying collecition exists if (array == NULL || array->collection == NULL) { return false; } // Check if we need to resize if (_needsToResize(array)) { // resize if needed bool ok = _resize(array); if (!ok) return false; } // At this point we can update the underlying collection array->collection[array->size] = val; // and update the counter array->size++; return true; } 

The function that determines if a resize is needed for our array is quite simple. It checks if the dynamic array is not a null pointer and compares the size to the capacity. In our case, we want to resize the array when we reach half of the capacity.

// we pass the pointer to the struct bool _needsToResize(D_array* array) { // we check if it is a null pointer if (array == NULL) { return false; } // check if the double of the size + 1 is still less than the capacity return (array->size + 1) * 2 < array->capacity; } 

If we need to resize the underlying array, we can utilize the realloc function, which takes two arguments: the original memory space and the desired final memory size. With realloc, a new memory space will be reserved, the old values will be copied into the new section, and the original space will be freed.

To determine the growth factor, we will simply double the space each time we reach half of the capacity.

// We accept a pointer to the array bool _resize(D_array* array) { // we check everything is in place if (array == NULL || array->collection == NULL) { return false; } // We calculate the new capacity uint32_t newCapacity = 2 * array->capacity; // and then reasign which our collection is array->collection = (int32_t*)realloc(array->collection, sizeof(int32_t) * newCapacity); // after this, we check everything went ok if (array->collection == NULL) { return false; } // and we update the new capacity array->capacity = newCapacity; return true; } 

Popping an element from a dynamic array

To pop an element from our dynamic array, we will accept a pointer to the array and a pointer to an integer. If the operation is successful, we will update the value that the integer pointer points to. Then, we will update the size field and return a boolean indicating the success of the operation.

 // we accept a pointer to an int bool Pop(D_array* array, int32_t* returnValue) { // check if we can continue if (array == NULL || array->collection == NULL) { return true; } // we decrease out poinert array->size--; // And we assign the value so the caller context can make use of it *returnValue = array->collection[array->size];; return true; } 

Testing the happy path

To test the happy path we will do the following:

1. Create a dynamic array and assert it was correctly created.
2. Push elements until we reach the limit where one more element will trigger the resize operation
3. Assert the capacity didn't changed
4. Push one more element and assert the capacity changed
5. Pop each element and check if it is what we expected
6. Check if the array is empty
7. destroy the array and check everything went ok

// We receive the initial capacity we desire void _testHappyPath(uint32_t capacity) { // we create a dynamic array D_array* array = CreateDynamicArray(capacity); // and we check the correct memory alocation assert(array != NULL) int32_t i = 0; // we start looping until we reach the half of the array while ((array->size + 1) * 2 < array->capacity) { Push(array, i); i++; } // We asert that the capacity didn't changed assert(array->capacity == capacity); // We push another element Push(array, i); // Check if the array grew as we wanted assert(array->capacity == capacity * 2); int32_t* returnValue = (int32_t*)malloc(sizeof(int32_t)); // Now we pop each element while (!IsEmpty(array)) { Pop(array, returnValue); // and we assert is the element we want assert(*returnValue == (int32_t)array->size); } assert(IsEmpty(array) == true); _cleanup(array); }