---
c: Copyright (C) Daniel Stenberg, <daniel@haxx.se>, et al.
SPDX-License-Identifier: curl
Title: curl_global_init_mem
Section: 3
Source: libcurl
See-also:
  - curl_global_cleanup (3)
  - curl_global_init (3)
Protocol:
  - All
Added-in: 7.12.0
---

# NAME

curl_global_init_mem - global libcurl initialization with memory callbacks

# SYNOPSIS

~~~c
#include <curl/curl.h>

CURLcode curl_global_init_mem(long flags,
                              curl_malloc_callback m,
                              curl_free_callback f,
                              curl_realloc_callback r,
                              curl_strdup_callback s,
                              curl_calloc_callback c);
~~~

# DESCRIPTION

This function works exactly as curl_global_init(3) with one addition: it
allows the application to set callbacks to replace the otherwise used internal
memory functions.

If you are using libcurl from multiple threads or libcurl was built with the
threaded resolver option then the callback functions must be thread-safe. The
threaded resolver is a common build option to enable (and in some cases the
default) so we strongly urge you to make your callback functions thread-safe.

All callback arguments must be set to valid function pointers. The
prototypes for the given callbacks must match these:

## `void *malloc_callback(size_t size);`

To replace malloc()

## `void free_callback(void *ptr);`

To replace free()

## `void *realloc_callback(void *ptr, size_t size);`

To replace realloc()

## `char *strdup_callback(const char *str);`

To replace strdup()

## `void *calloc_callback(size_t nmemb, size_t size);`

To replace calloc()

This function is otherwise the same as curl_global_init(3), please refer
to that man page for documentation.

# CAUTION

Manipulating these gives considerable powers to the application to severely
screw things up for libcurl. Take care.

# %PROTOCOLS%

# EXAMPLE

~~~c
extern void *malloc_cb(size_t);
extern void free_cb(void *);
extern void *realloc_cb(void *, size_t);
extern char *strdup_cb(const char *);
extern void *calloc_cb(size_t, size_t);

int main(void)
{
  CURLcode result;

  result = curl_global_init_mem(CURL_GLOBAL_DEFAULT, malloc_cb,
                                free_cb, realloc_cb,
                                strdup_cb, calloc_cb);

  if(result == CURLE_OK) {

    /* use libcurl, then before exiting... */

    curl_global_cleanup();
  }
}
~~~

# %AVAILABILITY%

# RETURN VALUE

This function returns a CURLcode indicating success or error.

CURLE_OK (0) means everything was OK, non-zero means an error occurred, see
libcurl-errors(3). If CURLOPT_ERRORBUFFER(3) was set with curl_easy_setopt(3)
there can be an error message stored in the error buffer when non-zero is
returned.
