Method and apparatus for detecting memory leaks using expiration events

Abstract

The invention utilizes expiration events and dependent pointers to indicate when the corresponding memory allocation should be de-allocated. Expiration events are occurrences that indicate corresponding memory allocations should be de-allocated prior to the occurrence of the event. Dependent pointers are pointers to currently allocated blocks of computer memory. These dependent pointers indicate that the corresponding computer memory allocation should be de-allocated prior to the de-allocation of the computer memory allocation referred to by the dependent pointer. Using memory management functions, the expiration events and dependent pointers are stored in a memory allocation table along with filenames and line numbers indicating where the request was made. At given points in the program, the memory allocation table is checked for memory leaks. Specifically, the memory allocation table is checked for currently allocated blocks of computer memory which have an expired expiration event that has occurred or a dependent pointer which points to a de-allocated memory allocation.