Threads: Lecture Notes

Name: `pthread_detach()`	System call or function: Function	Links: Online Manual \| Course Packet
What it does: detaches a thread `thread` : the thread is no longer joinable, so there is no need to join it. A detached thread automatically releases its resources upon exit from the thread's function.
What libraries you must include: `#include <pthread.h> // Defines pthread_detach().`
Syntax: `int pthread_detach (pthread_t thread);`
Description of arguments: `thread` : pointer to a `pthread_t` variable that was used for calling `pthread_create()` .
What type it returns: `int`	On success: `0`
	On failure: a non-zero error number that `errno` is usually set to.
	If failure, does it set `errno` ? No
Quick example: `if ((result = pthread_detach (thread)) != 0) /* error */`
Other variations: N/A

Rule of thumb: your program must call either

pthread_join()

pthread_detach()

(but not both) on every thread that you create with

pthread_create()

Otherwise, if a thread isn't joined nor detached, it will release it resources only after the process exits.