# Memory view

In some cases, for example, when debugging data processing problems, you may need to view raw memory of the running process. For this, CLion provides Memory View: you can jump from a pointer in the Variables tab to the memory region that includes the required address and examine the changes along with stepping through the program.

Procedure: Show Memory View

1. In the Variables tab of the Debug tool window, select the desired pointer variable.

2. Press `Ctrl+Enter` (Windows), `⌘ ⏎` (macOS), `⌘ ⏎` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ ⏎` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+Enter` (XWin), `Ctrl+Enter` (GNOME), `Ctrl+Enter` (KDE), `Ctrl+Enter` (Emacs), `Ctrl+Enter` (Sublime Text), `⌘ ⏎` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `⌘ ⏎` (Xcode), `Ctrl+Enter` (Visual Studio), `⌘ ⏎` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Enter` (ReSharper), `⌘ ⏎` (ReSharper (macOS)), `Ctrl+Enter` (QtCreator), `Ctrl+Enter` (QtCreator (macOS)), `Ctrl+Enter` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Enter` (Eclipse), `⌘ ⏎` (Eclipse (macOS)) or choose Show in Memory View from the variable's context menu:

![show a variable in memory view](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_memview_contextmenu.png)

This option is available for non-pointer variables as well. The variable's address will be taken automatically.

3. The Memory View window initially shows a 256-byte region that starts from the chosen address, with higher memory addresses at the bottom of the window. When you then invoke Memory View for other pointers , they are highlighted in the same window, and the region is extended to show more addresses if necessary.

Use the context menu of the left column to hide/show or copy the addresses:

![addresses column menu](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_memview_leftpanemenu.png)

The right-hand column displays the ASCII character equivalents of the memory values.

4. When you step through the code, CLion highlights the changes that happen in the currently shown memory region:

![changes in memory during stepping](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_memview_stepping.animated.gif)

Procedure: Configure the number of bytes per line

1. To change the number of columns (number of bytes per line) shown in memory view, click ![](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/app.expui.general.settings.svg) and select the number:

![Changing the number of columns in memory view](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_memoryview_columns.png)

Procedure: Open memory view in the editor

1. Use the ![](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/app.general.layoutEditorPreview.svg) button on the Variables (or Watches) tab to open the memory view in the editor.

![Move memory view to editor](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_memview_movetoeditor.png)

2. This way, you can open two independent memory windows, in the Debug tool window and in the editor:

![multiple memory view windows](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_memview_multiplewins.png)

Procedure: Go to address

* Use the Go to field of the Memory View window to jump to a particular address. You can enter the address directly as a hex number, specify a pointer variable or an expression evaluating to a pointer, or use the address of operator `&` to get the address of any variable.

Code completion in this field helps in choosing from the known symbols:

![completion in go to address](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_memview_gotoaddress_completion.png)

Procedure: Modify memory

Memory View supports on-the-fly memory editing.

1. Place the caret in the region you want to modify and start typing. You will see the new value displayed right away:

![Editing memory](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/cl_memory_modify.png)

> **Note:**
> Copy/paste and delete actions are not available.

## See also

### Reference

[Debug tool window](debug-tool-window.html)

### How tos

[Hexadecimal view](using-hexadecimal-view.html)

### External Links

[Webinar Recording: CLion Ask Me Anything Session: Debugger](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz5NQiji9YU5&t=244s) [CLion Debugging Beyond the Basics - Part 1 - Suspended](https://blog.jetbrains.com/clion/2021/03/clion-debugging-beyond-the-basics-part-1-suspended) [Video playlist: CLion Debugger](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ176FUIyIUawCufBKmmWkRq2t5sl1xsM)