# Python Tracemalloc Module

The `tracemalloc` module is a debug tool to trace memory blocks allocated by Python. It provides detailed information about memory allocation, allowing you to find memory leaks and understand memory usage.

## Importing the Module

```python
import tracemalloc
```

## Basic Usage

To start tracing memory allocations, use `tracemalloc.start()`.

```python
import tracemalloc

tracemalloc.start()

# ... run your application ...

snapshot = tracemalloc.take_snapshot()
top_stats = snapshot.statistics('lineno')

print("[ Top 10 ]")
for stat in top_stats[:10]:
    print(stat)
```

## Displaying the Top 10

You can display the files and lines that are allocating the most memory.

```python
import tracemalloc

tracemalloc.start()

# Allocate some memory
my_list = [x for x in range(100000)]
my_dict = {x: x for x in range(100000)}

snapshot = tracemalloc.take_snapshot()
top_stats = snapshot.statistics('lineno')

print("[ Top 10 ]")
for stat in top_stats[:10]:
    print(stat)
```

## Comparing Snapshots

To detect memory leaks, you can compare two snapshots taken at different times.

```python
import tracemalloc

tracemalloc.start()

# Take first snapshot
snapshot1 = tracemalloc.take_snapshot()

# Allocate memory
x = [i for i in range(10000)]

# Take second snapshot
snapshot2 = tracemalloc.take_snapshot()

top_stats = snapshot2.compare_to(snapshot1, 'lineno')

print("[ Top 10 differences ]")
for stat in top_stats[:10]:
    print(stat)
```

## Getting the Traceback

You can get the traceback of a memory block to see exactly where it was allocated. You need to set the number of frames to store when starting.

```python
import tracemalloc

# Store 25 frames
tracemalloc.start(25)

# ... code ...
snapshot = tracemalloc.take_snapshot()
top_stats = snapshot.statistics('traceback')

# Pick the biggest memory block
stat = top_stats[0]
print(f"{stat.count} memory blocks: {stat.size / 1024:.1f} KiB")
for line in stat.traceback.format():
    print(line)
```

[[programming/python/python]]