Name

pthread_detach − Marks a thread object for deletion

Syntax

#include <pthread.h>

int pthread_detach (thread)
pthread_t *thread;

Arguments

thread Thread object marked for deletion. 

Description

This routine indicates that storage for the specified thread is reclaimed when the thread terminates. This includes storage for the thread argument’s return value.  If thread has not terminated when this routine is called, this routine does not cause it to terminate. 

Call this routine when a thread object is no longer referenced.  Additionally, call this routine for every thread that is created to ensure that storage for thread objects does not accumulate. 

You cannot join with a thread after the thread has been detached. 

The results of this routine are unpredictable if the value of thread refers to a thread object that does not exist. 

Return Values

If an error condition occurs, this routine returns -1 and sets errno to the corresponding error value.  Possible return values are as follows.