file_ref_inc(9)

💖 file_ref_inc(9) — Kernel API Manual edition 💖

Okay so this is the file_ref_inc(9) page from the Kernel API Manual, bestie. It's giving tiny function, big reference-counting energy, and the vibe check is simple: acquire an additional reference on a file.

🌸 NAME 🌸

file_ref_inc — Acquire one reference on a file.

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

void file_ref_inc (file_ref_t *ref );

🎀 ARGUMENTS 🎀

• ref — Pointer to the reference count.

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

This function acquires an additional reference on a file. That's the whole main-character move: one more reference, periodt.

The way that it warns if the caller didn't already hold a reference? That's the plot twist, bestie. So if the caller didn't already hold a reference, expect a warning — it's literally telling on that situation, ngl.

⚠️ Warning behavior: it warns if the caller didn't already hold a reference. Keep that in mind, fr fr.

🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

• Kernel file: ./include/linux/file_ref.h
• file_ref_init(9)
• file_ref_get(9)
• file_ref_put(9)
• file_ref_put_close(9)
• file_ref_read(9)

🫶 And that's the page! Shoutout to source/version ./include/linux and the date October 2026 — iconic footer behavior, no cap. 💅