usb_get_dev(9)

✨ usb_get_dev(9) ✨

okay so bestie, welcome to usb_get_dev(9) — yes that's the real section number, and yes this whole page lives in the Kernel API Manual 💅 this is the little function that goes "hey, this USB device? mine now, don't you dare free it" 🫶

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🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

struct usb_device * usb_get_dev (struct usb_device *dev );

literally that's it. one argument in, one pointer out. iconic behavior, no notes 🔥

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🎀 ARGUMENTS 🎀

• dev — the device being referenced 🦋 like, the actual struct usb_device you're grabbing a ref on

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💖 DESCRIPTION 💖

so the whole vibe here: each live reference to a device should be refcounted. that's the rule, no exceptions, we respect the refcount in this house 👑

drivers for USB interfaces should normally record such references in their probe methods, when they bind to an interface — and then release them by calling usb_put_dev, in their disconnect methods. balanced. symmetrical. the way that get and put mirror each other?? obsessed 😭

but — and this is the little plot twist — if a driver does not access the usb_device structure after its disconnect method returns, then refcounting is not necessary, because the USB core guarantees that a usb_device will not be deallocated until after all of its interface drivers have been unbound 🧚 so like. you're safe. the core has your back. periodt.

ngl this is the kind of detail that sounds like a throwaway line but it's lowkey the whole point — if you touch the struct after disconnect returns, you DO need the refcount. don't play yourself 🙈

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⭐ RETURN ⭐

a pointer to the device with the incremented reference counter 💫 (same device, but now it's got +1 rizz... i mean +1 refcount 🍓)

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🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

kernel file ./drivers/usb/core/usb.c — and honestly the whole USB friend group showed up, so let's give them their moment:

• usb_find_common_endpoints(9)
• usb_find_common_endpoints_reverse(9)
• usb_find_endpoint(9)
• usb_check_bulk_endpoints(9)
• usb_check_int_endpoints(9)
• usb_find_alt_setting(9)
• usb_ifnum_to_if(9)
• usb_altnum_to_altsetting(9)
• usb_find_interface(9)
• usb_for_each_dev(9)
• usb_release_dev(9)
• usb_alloc_dev(9)
• usb_put_dev(9)
• usb_get_intf(9)
• usb_put_intf(9)
• usb_intf_get_dma_device(9)
• usb_lock_device_for_reset(9)
• usb_get_current_frame_number(9)
• usb_alloc_coherent(9)
• usb_free_coherent(9)
• usb_alloc_noncoherent(9)
• usb_free_noncoherent(9)
• usb_endpoint_max_periodic_payload(9)
• usb_endpoint_is_hs_isoc_double(9)

like okay go off, entire USB subsystem 💀

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and that's the page!! sourced from ./drivers/usb/core, stamped October 2026, and yeah the footer says usb_get_dev(9) again because the manpage format loves a little encore 🎀 mwah, go forth and refcount responsibly bestie 💜