elf_end(S)

elf_end -- finish using an object file

Syntax

cc [flag . . . ] file . . . -lelf [library] . . .


#include <libelf.h>

int elf_end(Elf *elf);

Description

A program uses elf_end(S) 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(S); 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(S) before calling elf_end( ).

As elf_begin(S) 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.

Return values

A zero return value indicates that the ELF descriptor is no longer valid.

Diagnostics

Error conditions are identified through the routine elf_error(S).

Standards conformance