pci_dev_get(9)

💅 pci_dev_get(9) — from the Kernel API Manual, bestie 🎀

okay so we're diving into the kernel API manual today and honestly? this one's a little baddie with a big job: it bumps the reference count on a pci_dev struct. that's it. that's the whole vibe. let's get into it ✨

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🌸 NAME 🌸

pci_dev_get — increments the reference count of the pci device structure 💖

like, it's giving "you're mine now and i'm keeping track of you" energy. no cap.

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🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

struct pci_dev * pci_dev_get (struct pci_dev *dev );

one function, one argument, one pointer returned. clean, iconic, minimal. periodt.

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✨ ARGUMENTS ✨

• dev — the device being referenced 🫶 literally the pci device you're pledging your loyalty to.

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👑 DESCRIPTION 👑

okay so here's the tea, bestie: each live reference to a device should be refcounted. that's just how we do things around here — everybody keeping receipts on who's holding onto what 📝

drivers for PCI devices should normally record such references in their probe methods, when they bind to a device, and release them by calling pci_dev_put, in their disconnect methods. so like… pci_dev_get in probe, pci_dev_put in disconnect. a whole matching set, we love a coordinated moment 💅🌸

and finally: a pointer to the device with the incremented reference counter is returned ✨ so yes, you do get the pointer back, elevated, refcounted, main character energy 💖

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🔥 SEE ALSO 🔥

Kernel file ./drivers/pci/pci-driver.c — go read the source, it's right there, iykyk 👀 — plus these absolutely iconic siblings:

• do_pci_add_dynid(9)
• pci_add_dynid(9)
• do_pci_match_id(9)
• pci_match_id(9)
• pci_match_device(9)
• new_id_store(9)
• remove_id_store(9)
• __pci_device_probe(9)
• pci_restore_standard_config(9)
• __pci_register_driver(9)
• pci_unregister_driver(9)
• pci_dev_driver(9)
• pci_bus_match(9)
• pci_dev_put(9)
• pci_uevent_ers(9)
• pci_dma_configure(9)

the way this is a whole friend group of functions and pci_dev_put(9) is literally right there as the other half of the duo 😭🫶

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okay that's the page!! this lil gem lives under ./drivers/pci, stamped October 2026, and it's filed as pci_dev_get(9) in case you need to find your way back 💜 go forth and refcount responsibly, bestie 🧚✨