pci_release_dev(9)

💅 pci_release_dev(9) — a Kernel API Manual moment

okay so bestie, welcome to the pci_release_dev moment, brought to you by the Kernel API Manual ✨ this is the page where a PCI device structure finally gets to rest, and honestly? iconic.

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🌸 NAME 🌸

pci_release_dev — free a PCI device structure when all users of it are finished 🎀

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

void pci_release_dev (struct device *dev );

like, that's the whole vibe. returns nothing, takes one thing. periodt.

🦋 ARGUMENTS 🦋

• dev — the device that's been disconnected 🫶 this is the one we're saying bye to.

💜 DESCRIPTION 💜

so the way this works: this function will be called only by the device core, and only when all users of this PCI device are done 💅 not you, not your driver, not your friend's driver — the device core. that's the whole rule, no cap.

basically it's the cleanup era. everyone's finished with this PCI device, so the structure gets set free. it's giving graceful exit, main character energy, closure. 🌈

ngl bestie, don't go calling this yourself. the device core handles it when the time is right. let the core cook. 🔥

⭐ SEE ALSO ⭐

kernel file ./drivers/pci/probe.c — and the whole friend group of siblings, all of them, in order, no skips:

• __pci_size_bars(9)
• __pci_read_base(9)
• pcie_get_link_speed(9)
• pci_ea_fixed_busnrs(9)
• pci_ext_cfg_is_aliased(9)
• pci_cfg_space_size_ext(9)
• pci_intx_mask_broken(9)
• pci_setup_device(9)
• pcie_relaxed_ordering_enabled(9)
• pci_scan_slot(9)
• pci_scan_child_bus_extend(9)
• pci_scan_child_bus(9)
• pcibios_root_bridge_prepare(9)
• pci_rescan_bus_bridge_resize(9)
• pci_rescan_bus(9)

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and that's the page, bestie 🍓🧚 the source lives at ./drivers/pci, the version stamp says October 2026, and the whole thing is filed under pci_release_dev(9) — mwah, go forth and let the device core do its thing 💖👑