{ int n = 100; char *foo = malloc(n); ...; bar(); } (gdb) break bar (gdb) r (gdb) up (gdb) p/x *(char (*)[100]) foo

{ int n = 100; char *foo = malloc(n); ...; bar(); } (gdb) break bar (gdb) r (gdb) up (gdb) p/x *(char (*)[100]) foo Printing malloc'd arrays can be a pain. Using the "pointer to array of type" typecast, you can force gdb to tell you everything at once.