# PinGCArrayAndGetDataAddress(Array, out ulong)

> Pins a garbage-collected (GC) array and returns the address of its first element, ensuring the array's memory location remains fixed.

## Definition

* **Type:** Method
* **Namespace:** [Unity.Collections.LowLevel.Unsafe](/engine/6000.6/script-reference/unity/collections/lowlevel/unsafe.md)
* **Assembly:** UnityEngine.CoreModule

## PinGCArrayAndGetDataAddress(Array, ulong)

> **Warning:**
>
> **Deprecated.** Use GCHandle.Alloc with GCHandle.AddrOfPinnedObject instead.

```csharp
public static void* PinGCArrayAndGetDataAddress(Array target, out ulong gcHandle)
```

### Parameters

**** (\[Array]\(https\://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/system.array)): The managed array to pin. It should be a valid array managed by the garbage collector.**** (\[ulong]\(https\://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/system.uint64)): The handle to associate with the pinned object. This should be managed properly to ensure it is correctly released.

### Returns

| Type                                                         | Description                                                                                                          |
| ------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [void\*](https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/system.void) | A pointer to the first element of the pinned array. Use this pointer for direct memory access to the array elements. |

### Remarks

The `PinGCArrayAndGetDataAddress` method pins a managed array in memory, preventing the garbage collector from relocating it. This is crucial when interfacing with native code or conducting low-level memory operations involving managed arrays. Use this method to obtain a stable pointer to array elements for performance-critical operations.

After pinning an array, release the GC handle using [UnsafeUtility.ReleaseGCObject](/engine/6000.6/script-reference/unity/collections/lowlevel/unsafe/unsafeutility/releasegcobject.md) when the array no longer needs to be pinned to avoid resource leaks.

```csharp
using UnityEngine;
using Unity.Collections.LowLevel.Unsafe;
using System;

public class PinArrayExample : MonoBehaviour
{
    void Start()
    {
        int[] managedArray = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };

        // Pin the managed array and get the address of its first element
        unsafe
        {
            void* dataPtr = UnsafeUtility.PinGCArrayAndGetDataAddress(managedArray, out ulong gcHandle);

            Debug.Log($"Address of first element: {(IntPtr)dataPtr}");

            // Manipulate the array data directly using the pointer
            int* intPtr = (int*)dataPtr;
            for (int i = 0; i < managedArray.Length; i++)
            {
                intPtr[i] *= 2;  // Double each element in the array
            }

            // Verify changes by logging the updated array
            Debug.Log("Contents of managed array after manipulation:");
            for (int i = 0; i < managedArray.Length; i++)
            {
                Debug.Log(managedArray[i]);  // Expected output: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10
            }

            // Release the GC handle once done
            UnsafeUtility.ReleaseGCObject(gcHandle);
        }

        // Confirm that the GC handle is released
        Debug.Log("GC handle released, managed array unpinned.");
    }
}
```

Additional Resources: [UnsafeUtility.PinGCArrayAndGetDataAddress](/engine/6000.6/script-reference/unity/collections/lowlevel/unsafe/unsafeutility/pingcarrayandgetdataaddress.md).