FcPatternReference(3)

💅 FcPatternReference(3) — the group chat edition 🎀

okay so you found your way to FcPatternReference(3) and honestly? slay. this is the manual page for the little function that keeps your patterns alive. let's get into it bestie ✨

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🌸 NAME 🌸

FcPatternReference — increment pattern reference count. that's it. that's the whole job. she's a one-trick pony and she ate 💅

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🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

#include <fontconfig/fontconfig.h>

void FcPatternReference (FcPattern *p);

like, literally just include the header and you're in. no cap 🫶

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✨ DESCRIPTION ✨

okay so the way this works: you call FcPatternReference and it adds another reference to p — as in, it bumps the refcount up by one so the pattern knows another person is holding onto it 🫶

and here's the iconic part — patterns are freed only when the reference count reaches zero. that's the vibe check. while the count is above zero, she stays alive and thriving. drop it to zero and she's gone. main character energy until the very last reference 😭👑

ngl this is the classic refcount dealio, so like… if you reference, please remember to eventually dereference. bestie behavior 💀

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🔥 SEE ALSO 🔥

(no SEE ALSO section in the original, so nothing to link — she's a standalone queen 👑)

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🌈 that's the whole page, fr fr. this gem is from Fontconfig 2.17.0, dated 27 June 2025 — go forth and reference responsibly, bestie 💖✨🎀