# Allocators

> Guide for Zig memory management and allocators. Use when choosing allocators, managing memory lifecycle, debugging leaks, or understanding arena vs page vs fixed-buffer allocation patterns.

- Skill: `vinnie357/allocators` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add vinnie357/allocators`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/vinnie357/allocators/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: vinnie357 (https://skillmd.com/u/vinnie357)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/vinnie357/allocators

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# Zig Allocators

Memory management patterns, allocator types, and allocation lifecycle.

For allocator types, patterns, and examples, see `references/allocators.md`.

## Anti-fabrication

This skill follows `core:anti-fabrication`. Verified against zig 0.16.0 (locally
installed, claude-skills-204): `references/allocators.md`'s `DebugAllocator` snippets
compile and pass as `zig test` — this file already had the correct `init` form
(`pub const init: Self = .{};`, a value, not a function call); a contradicting
function-call form was found and fixed in the troubleshooting skill instead, not here.
Re-verify against a locally installed `zig test` before asserting an allocator API this
skill doesn't cover — `std.heap`'s allocator-init pattern changed between 0.15 and 0.16.