# Recognizing patterns in memory

DevFeed: [Recognizing patterns in memory](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/recognizing-patterns-in-memory-39724.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.timdbg.com/posts/recognizing-patterns/>)

Author: Tim Misiak

Published: 2022-11-24T15:30:09Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [TimDbg](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/timdbg.md>)

Topics: [debugging](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/debugging.md>), [data](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/data.md>), [Processes](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/processes.md>)

Tags: [data](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/data.md>), [debugging](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/debugging.md>), [memory](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/memory.md>), [patterns](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/patterns.md>)

## AI overview

This tutorial explains how recognizing patterns in memory can help debug memory corruption. It covers aligned 32-bit and 64-bit values and pointers, including how repeated byte patterns and zero high bits can indicate the data type or pointer range involved.

## Source excerpt

Something I find frustrating is how hard it is to teach debugging skills. I think the biggest reason is because there are many things that can only be learned through experience. This is true for anything that requires pattern recognition. Our brains are great at recognizing patterns, but it often takes a large amount of practice to be able to identify useful patterns in data. I can't instantly give you pattern recognition skills with a short blog post, but I can tell you about some of the patterns that I look for so you can start to train your brain to see these as well.