Struct

GLibBytes

since: 2.32

Description

struct GBytes {
  /* No available fields */
}

A simple refcounted data type representing an immutable sequence of zero or more bytes from an unspecified origin.

The purpose of a GBytes is to keep the memory region that it holds alive for as long as anyone holds a reference to the bytes. When the last reference count is dropped, the memory is released. Multiple unrelated callers can use byte data in the GBytes without coordinating their activities, resting assured that the byte data will not change or move while they hold a reference.

A GBytes can come from many different origins that may have different procedures for freeing the memory region. Examples are memory from g_malloc(), from memory slices, from a GMappedFile or memory from other allocators.

GBytes work well as keys in GHashTable. Use g_bytes_equal() and g_bytes_hash() as parameters to g_hash_table_new() or g_hash_table_new_full(). GBytes can also be used as keys in a GTree by passing the g_bytes_compare() function to g_tree_new().

The data pointed to by this bytes must not be modified. For a mutable array of bytes see GByteArray. Use g_bytes_unref_to_array() to create a mutable array for a GBytes sequence. To create an immutable GBytes from a mutable GByteArray, use the g_byte_array_free_to_bytes() function.

Available since: 2.32

Constructors

g_bytes_new

Creates a new GBytes from data.

since: 2.32

g_bytes_new_static

Creates a new GBytes from static data.

since: 2.32

g_bytes_new_take

Creates a new GBytes from data.

since: 2.32

g_bytes_new_with_free_func

Creates a GBytes from data.

since: 2.32

Instance methods

g_bytes_compare

Compares the two GBytes values.

since: 2.32

g_bytes_equal

Compares the two GBytes values being pointed to and returns TRUE if they are equal.

since: 2.32

g_bytes_get_data

Get the byte data in the GBytes. This data should not be modified.

since: 2.32

g_bytes_get_region

Gets a pointer to a region in bytes.

since: 2.70

g_bytes_get_size

Get the size of the byte data in the GBytes.

since: 2.32

g_bytes_hash

Creates an integer hash code for the byte data in the GBytes.

since: 2.32

g_bytes_new_from_bytes

Creates a GBytes which is a subsection of another GBytes. The offset + length may not be longer than the size of bytes.

since: 2.32

g_bytes_ref

Increase the reference count on bytes.

since: 2.32

g_bytes_unref

Releases a reference on bytes. This may result in the bytes being freed. If bytes is NULL, it will return immediately.

since: 2.32

g_bytes_unref_to_array

Unreferences the bytes, and returns a new mutable GByteArray containing the same byte data.

since: 2.32

g_bytes_unref_to_data

Unreferences the bytes, and returns a pointer the same byte data contents.

since: 2.32