STRUCT NFT_OBJECT(9)

💅 struct nft_object(9) 💅

okay so real talk — welcome to the kernel API manual, bestie. this one is struct nft_object(9), straight out of the kernel API manual pages, and it's literally the blueprint for a nf_tables stateful object. no cap, it's a good one. 🎀

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✨ NAME ✨

struct nft_object — the nf_tables stateful object, fr fr. that's the whole vibe. 👑

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🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

here's the whole struct, copied exactly, no edits, we do not touch the code:

struct nft_object {
    struct list_head                list;
    struct rhlist_head              rhlhead;
    struct nft_object_hash_key      key;
    u32 genmask:2;
    u32 use;
    u64 handle;
    u16 udlen;
    u8 *udata;
    const struct nft_object_ops     *ops;
    unsigned char                   data[];
 };

look at that layout. the data[] at the end? iconic flex. 💅

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🌸 Members 🌸

breakdown time, one member at a time, main character energy only:

• list — this is the table stateful object list node 🫶 it's how this object links up with the rest of the crew.
• rhlhead — the nft_objname_ht node. yes, that's the whole description, it's giving minimal and mysterious.
• key — the keys that identify this object 🔑 like, its whole identity.
• genmask — the generation mask ✨ (yes, it's a :2 bitfield, tiny but mighty).
• use — number of references to this stateful object. every bestie that's holding onto it counts here 😭
• handle — a unique object handle. one of a kind, lowkey a fingerprint.
• udlen — length of user data 📏
• udata — the user data itself 🍓
• ops — object operations, i.e. the actual behaviour.
• data — object data, and the layout depends on type. so like, it's flexible. it's adaptable. it's whatever the type needs it to be 🦋

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🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

the whole extended friend group, all of them, in order, exactly as listed. the kernel file is ./include/net/netfilter/nf_tables.h and honestly there's a LOT of cross-references, so buckle up:

• struct nft_verdict(9)
• struct nft_regs(9)
• struct nft_ctx(9)
• struct nft_userdata(9)
• struct nft_set_elem(9)
• enum nft_iter_type(9)
• struct nft_set_desc(9)
• enum nft_set_class(9)
• struct nft_set_estimate(9)
• struct nft_expr(9)
• struct nft_set_ops(9)
• struct nft_set_type(9)
• struct nft_set(9)
• struct nft_set_binding(9)
• enum nft_set_extensions(9)
• struct nft_set_ext_type(9)
• struct nft_set_ext_tmpl(9)
• struct nft_set_ext(9)
• struct nft_expr_type(9)
• struct nft_expr_ops(9)
• struct nft_rule(9)
• struct nft_chain_validate_state(9)
• struct nft_chain(9)
• struct nft_chain_type(9)
• struct nft_base_chain(9)
• struct nft_table(9)
• struct nft_object_hash_key(9)
• struct nft_object_type(9)
• struct nft_object_ops(9)
• struct nft_flowtable(9)
• struct nft_traceinfo(9)
• struct nft_trans(9)
• struct nft_trans_hook(9)
• struct nft_trans_binding(9)

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ngl bestie, if you're poking at nf_tables internals, read the whole list. iykyk. 💀

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and that's the whole page!! source is ./include/net/netfilter, dated October 2026, and the page itself signs off as struct nft_object(9) 🎀✨ go forth and slay your netfilter debugging session, you've got this 💖🫶