assoc_array_clear(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

💅 assoc_array_clear — the kernel API manual, bestie edition

okay so this is assoc_array_clear(9) from the Kernel API Manual and honestly? she's a baddie. let's get into it 🎀

✨ NAME ✨

assoc_array_clear — scripts the deletion of, like, all the objects from an associative array. every single one. no survivors. periodt 💅

🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

struct assoc_array_edit * assoc_array_clear (struct assoc_array *array ,
const struct assoc_array_ops *ops );

that's the whole signature, bestie — copy it exactly, don't be weird about it 💖

🌸 ARGUMENTS 🌸

  • array — the array you're clearing out. the main character of this operation honestly 👑
  • ops — the operations to use. she's the supporting cast, but like… essential 🫶

🔥 DESCRIPTION 🔥

so what this does is: it precalculates and preallocates a script for deleting all the objects from an associative array. think of it like choreographing the whole goodbye before anyone actually leaves 💀

the result is an edit script — and here's the cute part: that script can either be applied or cancelled. your choice, your vibe ✨

the function returns:

  • a pointer to an edit script — if there are actually objects to be deleted (slay, work to do 💅)
  • NULL — if there are no objects in the array (empty. nothing. she's already clean 🌸)
  • -ENOMEM — the classic. memory said no 😭
⚠️ okay so this is the important bit, don't skip it: the caller should lock against other modifications and must continue to hold the lock until assoc_array_apply_edit has been called. hold it. keep holding it. do not let go 🫶

and here's the chill part — accesses to the tree may take place concurrently with this function, provided they hold the RCU read lock. so like, parallel vibes are fine, just follow the rules, iykyk 🧚

🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

kernel file ./lib/assoc_array.c and her whole friend group:

and that's the page, bestie 🦋 shoutout to ./lib and October 2026 for making this drop happen — mwah, iconic, no notes 💖✨🎀

📦 where this page comes from