STRUCT TOPA(9)

🎀 struct topa(9) — ToPA metadata 🎀

okay so bestie, this is the struct topa(9) page from the Kernel API Manual. it's ToPA metadata, and it's giving low-level kernel realness, iykyk. no cap. ✨

🌸 NAME 🌸

struct topa — ToPA metadata. that's the name, and it ate. 💅

🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

vibe check: here's the struct exactly as it shows up, bestie:

       struct topa {
           struct list_head        list;
           u64 offset;
           size_t size;
           int last;
           unsigned int            z_count;
        };

🧚 Members 🧚

okay so these are the members, and every single one is doing main-character work:

• list — linkage to struct pt_buffer's list of tables. it's the little chain that keeps this table hooked into the group chat. 🫶
• offset — offset of the first entry in this table in the buffer. yes, it's literally where the first entry sits in the buffer, ngl. 📍
• size — total size of all entries in this table. all the entries, summed up, periodt. 📏
• last — index of the last initialized entry in this table. the final entry that got set up, and last is keeping track. 🔚
• z_count — how many times the first entry repeats. the first entry said "again," and z_count is counting every single time. 💀

🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

Kernel file: ./arch/x86/events/intel/pt.c. plus these absolute icons are in the same orbit:

• struct topa_page(9)
• topa_alloc(9)
• topa_free(9)
• topa_insert_table(9)
• topa_table_full(9)
• topa_insert_pages(9)
• pt_topa_dump(9)
• pt_buffer_advance(9)
• pt_update_head(9)
• pt_buffer_region(9)
• pt_buffer_region_size(9)
• pt_handle_status(9)
• pt_read_offset(9)
• pt_buffer_reset_markers(9)
• pt_buffer_reset_offsets(9)
• pt_buffer_fini_topa(9)
• pt_buffer_init_topa(9)
• pt_buffer_setup_aux(9)
• pt_buffer_free_aux(9)
• intel_pt_interrupt(9)

signed off from the source/version ./arch/x86/events/intel and the date October 2026 — struct topa(9) is out, fr fr. 💖✨