Do I need pre-allocation ?
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Hello everybody !
You helped me a lot these last days, thanks !
I come up today with another question, concerning preallocation.
Let's consider 2 versions of code :
% a and b some matrix 1D
tab = zeros(length(a), length(b)); % PREALLOCATION
for x_idx = 1:length(a)
for y_idx = 1:length(b)
tab(x_idx, y_idx) = a(x_idx) * b(y_idx);
end
end
And :
% x and y some matrix 1D
tab = zeros(length(x), length(y)); % PREALLOCATION
tab = a' .* b;
I am wondering if I really need preallocation in the second version, because I don't access to every key of an "growing up" array, but I use Matlab vectorization..
So I think I can write (without loosing in terms of perf, and event do a bargain) :
% x and y some matrix 1D
tab = a' .* b;
Am I right ?
Robin.
6 Comments
Steven Lord
on 19 Mar 2019
In general the zeros function is one tool you can use to preallocate.
In your specific example your call to the zeros function is not preallocation.
Preallocating an array means allocating/initializing an array so you can fill it in later on, as opposed to reallocating the array to be a new size every time you add an element to it.
You're allocating an array, then throwing that allocated array away and reusing that name for a whole new array that has no relation with the originally allocated array.
Accepted Answer
Guillaume
on 19 Mar 2019
Edited: Guillaume
on 19 Mar 2019
Robin, in the 2nd case, yes you were attempting to preallocate the array. However, the array you preallocated is not the same array that you will end up with. In fact, the array you preallocated is immediately destroyed and replaced by a completely different array on the next line. Hence why Stephen says it's not preallocation.
In fact, more than unnecessary, your preallocation attempt is counter productive. Matlab waste time preallocating an array that is never going to be used and will be destroyed immediately.
There is a big difference between
tab(r, c) = something %indexing
and
tab = something %no indexing
In the first case, using indexing, you're assigning to one or more elements of the array. If the array is not big enough to start with, then matlab waste time making room for the new element(s). Hence preallocation is important.
In the second case, where there's no indexing, you're copying an entire array. Whatever was in the variable before that gets discarded, so preallocation doesn't work.
More Answers (1)
madhan ravi
on 19 Mar 2019
Preallocation is not necessary in your second version.
3 Comments
madhan ravi
on 19 Mar 2019
I said Preallocation is not needed for the second case , where have I ever said it was preallocation?, one flaw was I never explained the reason for it but Guillaume did so +1.
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