NAME

       pthread_detach - detach a thread

SYNOPSIS

       #include <pthread.h>

       int pthread_detach(pthread_t thread);

DESCRIPTION

       The pthread_detach() function shall indicate to the implementation that storage for the thread thread can
       be  reclaimed when that thread terminates. If thread has not terminated, pthread_detach() shall not cause
       it to terminate. The effect of multiple pthread_detach() calls on the same target thread is unspecified.

RETURN VALUE

       If the call succeeds, pthread_detach() shall return 0; otherwise, an error number shall  be  returned  to
       indicate the error.

ERRORS

       The pthread_detach() function shall fail if:

       EINVAL The  implementation  has  detected that the value specified by thread does not refer to a joinable
              thread.

       ESRCH  No thread could be found corresponding to that specified by the given thread ID.

       The pthread_detach() function shall not return an error code of [EINTR].

       The following sections are informative.

EXAMPLES

       None.

APPLICATION USAGE

       None.

RATIONALE

       The pthread_join() or pthread_detach() functions should eventually be called for  every  thread  that  is
       created so that storage associated with the thread may be reclaimed.

       It  has  been  suggested  that  a  "detach"  function  is  not necessary; the detachstate thread creation
       attribute is sufficient, since a thread need never be dynamically detached. However, need  arises  in  at
       least two cases:

        1. In  a  cancellation  handler  for  a pthread_join() it is nearly essential to have a pthread_detach()
           function in order to detach the thread on which pthread_join() was waiting. Without it, it  would  be
           necessary  to have the handler do another pthread_join() to attempt to detach the thread, which would
           both delay the cancellation  processing  for  an  unbounded  period  and  introduce  a  new  call  to
           pthread_join(),  which might itself need a cancellation handler. A dynamic detach is nearly essential
           in this case.

        2. In order to detach the "initial thread" (as  may  be  desirable  in  processes  that  set  up  server
           threads).

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

       None.

SEE ALSO

       pthread_join() , the Base Definitions volume of IEEE Std 1003.1-2001, <pthread.h>

COPYRIGHT

       Portions of this text are reprinted and reproduced in electronic form from IEEE Std 1003.1, 2003 Edition,
       Standard  for  Information Technology -- Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX), The Open Group Base
       Specifications Issue 6, Copyright (C) 2001-2003 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers,
       Inc and The Open Group. In the event of any discrepancy between this version and the  original  IEEE  and
       The  Open  Group  Standard,  the  original  IEEE and The Open Group Standard is the referee document. The
       original Standard can be obtained online at http://www.opengroup.org/unix/online.html .

IEEE/The Open Group                                   2003                                     PTHREAD_DETACH(P)