Re: Shrunk array takes more memory than original

The only way how to shrink the memory is to allocate a new array (or undef, but then you can't keep any values after shrinking).

my @shrunk = @array[0 .. 5_000];  # Array slice.
say size(\@shrunk);               # 40072
[download]

See also How do I shrink an array in Perl? on StackOverflow.

لսႽ† ᥲᥒ⚪⟊Ⴙᘓᖇ Ꮅᘓᖇ⎱ Ⴙᥲ𝇋ƙᘓᖇ

Comment on Re: Shrunk array takes more memory than original Download Code

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re^2: Shrunk array takes more memory than original by kroach (Pilgrim) on Nov 10, 2015 at 12:45 UTC
I do not mean to shrink the memory, I would like it to stay the same instead of growing. I'm not adding anything new to the array and I don't get why it gets larger from having half of its elements removed.	[reply]
Re^3: Shrunk array takes more memory than original by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Nov 10, 2015 at 13:06 UTC
why it gets larger from having half of its elements removed. Because using $#array causes some magic to be attached to the array. You don't even have to assign to $#array for this to happen, only reference it: `@b = 1 .. 10; print size \@b;; 256 print $#b; print size \@b;; 9 440` [download] And yes, 184 bytes does seem excessive. You'd think that the magic could be stored once and simply referenced for each array using an 4/8-byte pointer. With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday' Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error. "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority". I knew I was on the right track :) In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.	[reply] [d/l]
Re^4: Shrunk array takes more memory than original by dave_the_m (Monsignor) on Nov 10, 2015 at 13:12 UTC
Because using $#array causes some magic to be attached to the array. Technically speaking, a temporary magic object is created that points to the array. When the object is assigned to, it truncates the array. This object is freed (well, returned to the pool anyway) at the end of the statement. The array itself never gains any magic. Dave.	[reply]
Re^5: Shrunk array takes more memory than original by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Nov 10, 2015 at 13:16 UTC


There's more than one way to do things
	PerlMonks