HeapReAlloc

The HeapReAlloc function reallocates a block of memory from a heap. This function enables you to resize a memory block and change other memory block properties. The allocated memory is not movable.

LPVOID HeapReAlloc(

HANDLE hHeap, // handle to a heap block
DWORD dwFlags, // heap reallocation flags
LPVOID lpMem, // pointer to the memory to reallocate
DWORD dwBytes // number of bytes to reallocate
);  

Parameters

hHeap

Specifies the heap from which the memory will be reallocated. This is a handle returned by the HeapCreate or GetProcessHeap function.

dwFlags

Specifies several controllable aspects of heap reallocation. Specifying any of these flags will override the corresponding flag specified in the flOptions parameter when the heap was created by using the HeapCreate function. You can specify one or more of the following flags:

Flag Meaning
HEAP_GENERATE_EXCEPTIONS Specifies that the operating-system will raise an exception to indicate a function failure, such as an out-of-memory condition, instead of returning NULL.
HEAP_NO_SERIALIZE Specifies that mutual exclusion will not be used while this function is accessing the heap. For more information about HEAP_NO_SERIALIZE, see the Remarks section of HeapCreate.
HEAP_REALLOC_IN_PLACE_ONLY Specifies that there can be no movement when reallocating a memory block to a larger size. If this flag is not specified and the reallocation request is for a larger size, the function may move the block to a new location. If this flag is specified and the block cannot be enlarged without moving, the function will fail, leaving the original memory block unchanged.
HEAP_ZERO_MEMORY If the reallocation request is for a larger size, this flag specifies that the additional region of memory beyond the original size will be initialized to zero. The contents of the memory block up to its original size are unaffected.

lpMem

Points to the block of memory that the function reallocates. This pointer is returned by an earlier call to the HeapAlloc or HeapReAlloc function.

dwBytes

Specifies the new size of the memory block, in bytes. A memory block's size can be increased or decreased by using this function.

If the heap specified by the hHeap parameter is a "non-growable" heap, dwBytes must be less than 0x7FFF8. You create a non-growable heap by calling the HeapCreate function with a nonzero value.

Return Values

If the function succeeds, the return value is a pointer to the reallocated memory block.

If the function fails and you have not specified HEAP_GENERATE_EXCEPTIONS, the return value is NULL.

If the function fails and you have specified HEAP_GENERATE_EXCEPTIONS, the function may generate the following exceptions:

Value Meaning
STATUS_NO_MEMORY The reallocation attempt failed for lack of available memory.
STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION The reallocation attempt failed because of heap corruption or improper function parameters.

If the function fails, it calls SetLastError. An application can call GetLastError for extended error information.

Remarks

If HeapReAlloc succeeds, it allocates at least the amount of memory requested. If the actual amount allocated is greater than the amount requested, the process can use the entire amount. To determine the actual size of the reallocated block, use the HeapSize function.

To free a block of memory allocated by HeapReAlloc, use the HeapFree function.

See Also

GetProcessHeap, HeapAlloc, HeapCreate, HeapDestroy, HeapFree, HeapSize, SetLastError