curl_share_init(3)

✨ curl_share_init — bestie, let's make a share object 🎀

okay so real talk, we're deep in the libcurl section of the manual today and the star of the show is curl_share_init from the Library Functions Manual. she's short, she's sweet, and she's the main character of every share-handle origin story. 💅

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🌸 NAME 🌸

curl_share_init — create a share object ✨

🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

#include <curl/curl.h>

CURLSH *curl_share_init();

💖 DESCRIPTION 💖

So this function hands you back a pointer to a CURLSH handle, and that handle is literally the input to all the other share-functions. Some spots in the docs call it a "share handle" — same thing, different nickname, iykyk. 🫶

⚠️ okay this part is non-negotiable: this init call MUST have a corresponding call to curl_share_cleanup(3) when all operations using the share are complete. not "should", not "maybe later" — MUST. don't leave her hanging. 😭

And what do you even do with this handle? You pass it to curl via the CURLOPT_SHARE(3) option with curl_easy_setopt(3) — that's how you make that specific curl handle use the data in this share. one share, many handles, everyone's sharing, it's giving community. 👑

🌈 PROTOCOLS 🌈

This functionality affects all supported protocols. every single one. no cap. ⭐

🍓 EXAMPLE 🍓

int main(void)
{
  CURLSHcode sh;
  CURLSH *share = curl_share_init();
  sh = curl_share_setopt(share, CURLSHOPT_SHARE, CURL_LOCK_DATA_CONNECT);
  if(sh)
    printf("Error: %s\n", curl_share_strerror(sh));
}

look at her go — init the share, set an option, check the code, print the error string if it's not zero. iconic behavior honestly. 💜

🧚 AVAILABILITY 🧚

Added in curl 7.10 ✨ (yes she's been around a while, a true veteran)

👑 RETURN VALUE 👑

If this function returns NULL, something went wrong (out of memory, etc.) and therefore the share object was not created. 💀 so like, always vibe check that pointer before you use it, bestie.

💅 SEE ALSO 💅

• curl_share_cleanup(3)
• curl_share_setopt(3)

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fr fr that's the whole page — sending you a million heart emojis from the libcurl manual, dated 2026-10-12, and yes that footer is real: this one's from libcurl, so go forth and share responsibly 🦋💖🎀