elf_end(3E)

DESCRIPTION

A program uses elf_end to terminate an ELF descriptor, elf, and to deallocate data associated with the descriptor. Until the program terminates a descriptor, the data remain allocated. elf should be a value previously returned by elf_begin; a null pointer is allowed as an argument, to simplify error handling. If the program wishes to write data associated with the ELF descriptor to the file, it must use elf_update before calling elf_end.

As elf_begin(3E) explains, a descriptor can have more than one activation. Calling elf_end removes one activation and returns the remaining activation count. The library does not terminate the descriptor until the activation count reaches zero. Consequently, a zero return value indicates the ELF descriptor is no longer valid.

SEE ALSO

elf(3E), elf_begin(3E), elf_update(3E).