ELF_END(3)		   Libelf Programmer's Manual		      ELF_END(3)

NAME
     elf_end - Release resources associated with an ELF descriptor.


SYNOPSIS
     #include <libelf.h>

     int elf_end(Elf *elf);


DESCRIPTION
     The  elf_end  function releases resources associated with an ELF descriptor
     previously returned by elf_begin.	It decrements the ELF  descriptoras  in-
     ternal  reference count by one. When this count reaches zero, the resources
     associated with the descriptor are freed and the descriptor is invalidated.
     If elf is not an archive member with ELF kind ELF_K_AR, the internal refer-
     ence count is increased by one each time elf is passed to elf_begin as  the
     ref argument.

     An	 ELF descriptor whose reference count reaches zero is invalidated.  Fur-
     ther operations on the descriptor will result in undefined behavior.


PARAMETERS
     elf    The ELF descriptor (may be NULL).


RETURN VALUE
     Return the ELF descriptor's current internal reference count  after  decre-
     menting. A return value of zero indicates the ELF descriptor is now invali-
     dated.  If elf is NULL, then elf_end also returns 0.


SEE ALSO
     elf_begin(3), libelf(3), elf(5)


ATTRIBUTES
     For  an  explanation  of the terms used in this section, see attributes(7).
     allbox; lbx lb lb l l l.  Interface Attribute Value T{ elf_end()
     T}	  Thread safety	  MT-Safe


REPORTING BUGS
     Report   bugs   to	  <elfutils-devel@sourceware.org>   or	 https://source-
     ware.org/bugzilla/.


Libelf				   2025-03-31			      ELF_END(3)