The LocalAlloc function allocates the specified number of bytes
from the heap. In the linear Win32 API environment, there is no
difference between the local heap and the global heap.
HLOCAL LocalAlloc(
UINT uFlags, // allocation attributes
UINT uBytes // number of bytes to allocate
);
Parameters
uFlags
Specifies how to allocate memory. If zero is specified, the
default is the LMEM_FIXED flag. Except for the incompatible
combinations that are specifically noted, any combination of the
following flags can be specified. To indicate whether the function
allocates fixed or movable memory, specify one of the first six
flags:
Flag Meaning
LMEM_FIXED
Allocates fixed memory. This flag cannot be combined with the
LMEM_MOVEABLE or LMEM_DISCARDABLE flag.The return value is a pointer
to the memory block. To access the memory, the calling process simply
casts the return value to a pointer.
LMEM_MOVEABLE
Allocates movable memory. This flag cannot be combined with the
LMEM_FIXED flag.The return value is the handle of the memory object.
The handle is a 32-bit quantity that is private to the calling
process. To translate the handle into a pointer, use the LocalLock
function.
LPTR
Combines the LMEM_FIXED and LMEM_ZEROINIT flags.
LHND
Combines the LMEM_MOVEABLE and LMEM_ZEROINIT flags.
NONZEROLHND
Same as the LMEM_MOVEABLE flag.
NONZEROLPTR
Same as the LMEM_FIXED flag.
LMEM_DISCARDABLE
Allocates discardable memory. This flag cannot be combined with
the LMEM_FIXED flag. Some Win32-based applications may ignore this
flag.
LMEM_NOCOMPACT
Does not compact or discard memory to satisfy the allocation request.
LMEM_NODISCARD
Does not discard memory to satisfy the allocation request.
LMEM_ZEROINIT
Initializes memory contents to zero.
uBytes
Specifies the number of bytes to allocate. If this parameter is
zero and the uFlags parameter specifies the LMEM_MOVEABLE flag, the
function returns a handle to a memory object that is marked as
discarded.