BIO_new

Section: OpenSSL (3)
Updated: 2000-09-16
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NAME

BIO_new, BIO_set, BIO_free, BIO_vfree, BIO_free_all - BIO allocation and freeing functions

SYNOPSIS

 #include <openssl/bio.h>

 BIO *  BIO_new(BIO_METHOD *type);
 int    BIO_set(BIO *a,BIO_METHOD *type);
 int    BIO_free(BIO *a);
 void   BIO_vfree(BIO *a);
 void   BIO_free_all(BIO *a);

DESCRIPTION

The BIO_new() function returns a new BIO using method type.

BIO_set() sets the method of an already existing BIO.

BIO_free() frees up a single BIO, BIO_vfree() also frees up a single BIO but it does not return a value. Calling BIO_free() may also have some effect on the underlying I/O structure, for example it may close the file being referred to under certain circumstances. For more details see the individual BIO_METHOD descriptions.

BIO_free_all() frees up an entire BIO chain, it does not halt if an error occurs freeing up an individual BIO in the chain.

RETURN VALUES

BIO_new() returns a newly created BIO or NULL if the call fails.

BIO_set(), BIO_free() return 1 for success and 0 for failure.

BIO_free_all() and BIO_vfree() do not return values.

NOTES

Some BIOs (such as memory BIOs) can be used immediately after calling BIO_new(). Others (such as file BIOs) need some additional initialization, and frequently a utility function exists to create and initialize such BIOs.

If BIO_free() is called on a BIO chain it will only free one BIO resulting in a memory leak.

Calling BIO_free_all() a single BIO has the same effect as calling BIO_free() on it other than the discarded return value.

Normally the type argument is supplied by a function which returns a pointer to a BIO_METHOD. There is a naming convention for such functions: a source/sink BIO is normally called BIO_s_*() and a filter BIO BIO_f_*();

EXAMPLE

Create a memory BIO:

 BIO *mem = BIO_new(BIO_s_mem());