STRUCT PHY(9)

💅 struct phy(9) — the kernel API manual, bestie edition 💅

okay so real talk, this is the struct phy(9) page out of the Kernel API Manual, and it's literally the blueprint for how a phy device gets represented in the kernel. no cap, it's foundational. let's get into it 🫶

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✨ NAME ✨

struct phy — represents the phy device 👑

like, it is the phy device. the whole vibe. main character energy fr.

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🎀 SYNOPSIS 🎀

here's the icon itself, character for character, don't touch a thing:

struct phy {
    struct device           dev;
    int id;
    const struct phy_ops    *ops;
    struct mutex            mutex;
    struct lock_class_key   lockdep_key;
    int init_count;
    int power_count;
    struct phy_attrs        attrs;
    struct regulator        *pwr;
    struct dentry           *debugfs;
 };

look at her. gorgeous. every single field matters, so let's go through them one by one 💖

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🦋 MEMBERS 🦋

• dev — the phy device itself. that's the device hanging out in there 🎀
• id — the id of the phy device. her little number ✨
• ops — function pointers for performing phy operations. this is where the actual behaviour lives, iykyk 🔥
• mutex — a mutex to protect phy_ops. do not skip the locking, bestie, that's the whole point 💅
• lockdep_key — lockdep information for this mutex. yes she has her own lockdep key, she's that girl 🎀
• init_count — used to protect when the PHY is used by multiple consumers. shared custody situation fr fr 🙈
• power_count — used to protect when the PHY is used by multiple consumers. same deal, also for the multiple-consumers protection ✨
• attrs — used to specify PHY specific attributes. the phy-specific details go here 🌸
• pwr — the power regulator associated with the phy. her power supply, iconic ⭐
• debugfs — the debugfs directory. where the debug files live 🦋

lowkey a reminder: init_count and power_count are both about protecting things when the PHY gets used by multiple consumers. that's not me being repetitive, that's literally what the page says, so I'm keeping both 💀

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👀 SEE ALSO 👀

go read these next, bestie, they're all linked from the kernel file ./include/linux/phy/phy.h:

• union phy_configure_opts(9)
• struct phy_ops(9)
• struct phy_attrs(9)
• struct phy_provider(9)
• struct phy_lookup(9)

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and that's the page!! 🎉 this one's sourced from the Kernel file ./include/linux/phy, dated October 2026 — so mark your calendar and stan responsibly 💜✨