Inside MySQL’s MEM_ROOT: How Memory Allocation Really Works

This article provides an in‑depth technical walkthrough of MySQL’s MEM_ROOT memory allocator, covering the key macros, the MEM_ROOT and USED_MEM structures, initialization and allocation routines, pointer‑manipulation logic, and the heuristic algorithm that grows block sizes as usage increases.

CDatabase InternalsMEM_ROOT

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Inside MySQL’s MEM_ROOT: How Memory Allocation Really Works

ITPUB

Apr 12, 2016 · Backend Development

Understanding MySQL’s MEM_ROOT: Structure, Macros, and Allocation Mechanics

This article explains MySQL's widely used MEM_ROOT memory allocator, detailing its macros, the MEM_ROOT and USED_MEM structures, initialization routine, allocation algorithm, and pointer handling, while illustrating how free and used blocks are managed via linked lists.

Backend DevelopmentCMEM_ROOT

0 likes · 8 min read

Understanding MySQL’s MEM_ROOT: Structure, Macros, and Allocation Mechanics