/HEAP (Set Heap Size)

 

The latest version of this topic can be found at -HEAP (Set Heap Size).

HEAP:reserve[,commit]

  
## Remarks  
 The /HEAP option sets the size of the heap in bytes. This option is only for use when building an .exe file.  
  
 The *reserve* argument specifies the total heap allocation in virtual memory. The default heap size is 1 MB. The linker rounds up the specified value to the nearest 4 bytes.  
  
 The optional `commit` argument is subject to interpretation by the operating system. In Windows NT/Windows 2000, it specifies the amount of physical memory to allocate at a time. Committed virtual memory causes space to be reserved in the paging file. A higher `commit` value saves time when the application needs more heap space, but increases the memory requirements and possibly the startup time.  
  
 Specify the *reserve* and `commit` values in decimal or C-language notation.  
  
 This functionality is also available via a module definition file with [HEAPSIZE](../Topic/HEAPSIZE.md).  
  
### To set this linker option in the Visual Studio development environment  
  
1.  Open the project's **Property Pages** dialog box. For details, see [Setting Visual C++ Project Properties](../Topic/Working%20with%20Project%20Properties.md).  
  
2.  Click the **Linker** folder.  
  
3.  Click the **System** property page.  
  
4.  Modify the **Heap Commit Size** property.  
  
### To set this linker option programmatically  
  
-  See [HeapReserveSize](assetId:///P:Microsoft.VisualStudio.VCProjectEngine.VCLinkerTool.HeapReserveSize?qualifyHint=False&autoUpgrade=True) and [HeapCommitSize](assetId:///P:Microsoft.VisualStudio.VCProjectEngine.VCLinkerTool.HeapCommitSize?qualifyHint=False&autoUpgrade=True).  
  
## See Also  
 [Setting Linker Options](../Topic/Setting%20Linker%20Options.md)   
 [Linker Options](../Topic/Linker%20Options.md)