stack vs heap

This linked article introduces the concept of stack and heap as well as their difference.

http://gribblelab.org/CBootcamp/7_Memory_Stack_vs_Heap.html

Stack:

Access fast

Allocate and release memory automatically by CPU

Has a size limits

Variables can't be resized

Variables accessed locally 

Heap:

Allocate and release memory by yourself

no limits on memory size( has physical memory size limits )

Variables can be resized using realloc() function

Variables accessed globally 

When to use heap:

1\ You want a allocate a large block of memory and keep variables around a long time.

2\ You need variables like arrays or structures that change their size dynamically