elf_end(3elf)

elf_end -- finish using an object file

Synopsis

   cc [flag . . . ] file . . . -lelf [library] . . .
   
   #include <libelf.h>
   

   int elf_end(Elf elf);

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(3elf) 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 Consequently, a zero return value indicates the ELF descriptor is no longer valid.

References

Intro(3elf), elf_begin(3elf), elf_update(3elf)