Marks a thread object for deletion.

1  –  C Binding

    #include <pthread.h>

    int
    pthread_detach (
             pthread_t   thread);

2  –  Arguments

 thread

    Thread object being marked for deletion.

3  –  Description

    This routine marks the specified thread object to indicate that
    storage for the corresponding thread can be reclaimed when
    the thread terminates. This includes storage for the thread
    argument's return value, as well as the thread object. If thread
    has not terminated when this routine is called, this routine does
    not cause it to terminate.

    When a thread object is no longer referenced, call this routine.

    The results of this routine are unpredictable if the value of
    thread refers to a thread object that does not exist.

    You can create a thread already detached by setting its thread
    object's detachstate attribute.

    The pthread_join() routine also detaches the target thread after
    pthread_join() returns successfully.

4  –  Return Values

    If an error condition occurs, this routine returns an integer
    indicating the type of error. Possible return values are as
    follows:

    Return      Description

    0           Successful completion.
    [EINVAL]    The value specified by thread does not refer to a
                joinable thread.
    [ESRCH]     The value specified by thread cannot be found.

5  –  Associated Routines

       pthread_cancel()
       pthread_create()
       pthread_exit()
       pthread_join()