Should I free the C array I pass into NSBezierPath's setLineDash:count:phase: method?

Question

I am setting the line dash style on an NSBezierPath instance:

NSBezierPath *path = [NSBezierPath path];
// Get the path information...

NSInteger count = 0;
// Get the array count...

CGFloat *dashLengths = (CGFloat *)malloc(sizeof(CGFloat) * count);
// Populate the array...

CGFloat phase = 0.0f;
// Get the phase...

[path setLineDash:dashLengths count:count phase:phase];

Should I call free() on dashLengths to prevent a memory leak? Or would releasing the array cause a error later on?

Answer 1

Why are you using malloc in the first place? Just declare

CGFloat dashLengths[count];

Now dashLengths is an automatic variable. No memory management required.

Answer 2

No, you must free() that malloc()'d array yourself.

Answer 3

You should call free() on dashLengths right after you free path. NSBezierPath has no way of retaining it, since it's just a regular ol pointer, so you should not take that memory away until NSBezierPath goes away.