Alternative to using global for a very large array
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Hi
I have a quite large array of data (100s of MB) that I am using as a LUT in multiple functions. If I declare it as a parameter, it will be copied locally by each function, which is an unjustified waste of memory. The solution I am currently using is to define it as global. I know that globals are highly discouraged, but is there a smarter alternative for my case?
1 Comment
Bruno Luong
on 17 Sep 2019
Edited: Bruno Luong
on 17 Sep 2019
MATLAB does not copy the matrix if you call it as parameter, or even assign it to new variable
BIG = rand(1e4);
B = BIG;
C = foo(BIG);
function C = foo(A)
C = A;
end
A, B, C use a shared-memory of data.
So remove this global and program normally as you would and let MATLAB does the work.
NOTE: However if you do this there is 2 big matrices in memory after the third statement
BIG = rand(1e4);
B = BIG;
B(1) = 10;
Accepted Answer
per isakson
on 17 Sep 2019
Edited: per isakson
on 17 Sep 2019
If LUT is look-up-table and the called function doesn't change the LUT-value no copies are made.
See also Memory Management for Functions and Variables. This blog is more that ten years and Matlab evolves, but it's worth reading.
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