die_deref_ptr_type(9)

💅 die_deref_ptr_type(9) — like, the Kernel API Manual one, bestie

Okay so we're in the die_deref_ptr_type(9) page, it lives in the Kernel API Manual, and honestly? It's a little baddie. Let me put you on. 🫶

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✨ NAME ✨

die_deref_ptr_type — returns type info for pointer access. That's the whole vibe. Short, sweet, main character energy.

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🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

Dwarf_Die * die_deref_ptr_type (Dwarf_Die *ptr_die , int offset ,
Dwarf_Die *die_mem );

Not me writing out three whole params. Iconic of it. 💅

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🎀 ARGUMENTS 🎀

• ptr_die — a pointer type DIE. like, the actual pointer-looking DIE you're handing over 💖
• offset — the access offset for the pointer. yes bestie, the number. the where 🦋
• die_mem — a buffer to save the resulting DIE in. your little parking spot for the answer ⭐

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🔥 DESCRIPTION 🔥

So what does it do. Okay. This function follows the pointer in ptr_die with the given offset, and then it saves the resulting type into die_mem. That's it. That's the whole personality. 🧚

And here's the little twist that eats: if the pointer is pointing at a struct type, then the actual member at the offset is what gets returned. Not the struct, the member. obsessed. 😭✨

lowkey important: it's following the pointer — ptr_die is the pointer, and the member-at-offset thing only kicks in for the struct case. fr fr. 👑

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🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

Kernel file ./tools/perf/util/dwarf-aux.c has the whole friend group, and honestly you should go say hi to all of them:

• cu_find_realpath(9)
• cu_get_comp_dir(9)
• cu_find_lineinfo(9)
• cu_walk_functions_at(9)
• die_get_linkage_name(9)
• die_compare_name(9)
• die_match_name(9)
• die_get_call_lineno(9)
• die_get_type(9)
• die_get_real_type(9)
• die_get_pointer_type(9)
• die_is_signed_type(9)
• die_is_func_def(9)
• die_entrypc(9)
• die_is_func_instance(9)
• die_get_data_member_location(9)
• die_get_call_file(9)
• die_get_decl_file(9)
• die_find_child(9)
• die_find_tailfunc(9)
• die_find_realfunc(9)
• die_find_top_inlinefunc(9)
• die_find_inlinefunc(9)
• die_find_func_rettype(9)
• die_walk_instances(9)
• die_walk_lines(9)
• die_find_variable_at(9)
• die_find_member(9)
• die_get_typename_from_type(9)
• die_get_typename(9)
• die_get_varname(9)
• die_get_var_innermost_scope(9)
• die_get_var_range(9)
• is_breg_access_indirect(9)
• die_find_variable_by_reg(9)
• die_find_variable_by_addr(9)
• die_collect_vars(9)
• die_collect_global_vars(9)
• die_get_cfa(9)
• die_get_scopes(9)
• die_get_member_type(9)

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Okay that's the whole page, go be smart about pointers bestie 💜

Signed, sealed, delivered: this one came out of ./tools/perf/util, dated October 2026, and it's still filed under die_deref_ptr_type(9) if you ever need to find it again. mwah. 💋🎀