GObject Reference Manual

for GLib 2.18.1

Introduction

I. Concepts

Data types and programming
Exporting a C API

The GLib Dynamic Type System

Copy functions

Conventions

Non-instantiable non-classed fundamental types

Instantiable classed types: objects

Initialization and Destruction

Non-instantiable classed types: interfaces

Interface Initialization
Interface Destruction

The GObject base class

Object instantiation

Object memory management

Reference count
Weak References
Reference counts and cycles

Object properties

Accessing multiple properties at once

The GObject messaging system

C Closures
Non-C closures (for the fearless)

Signal registration
Signal connection
Signal emission
The detail argument

II. API Reference

Type Information — The GLib Runtime type identification and management system
GTypePlugin — An interface for dynamically loadable types
GTypeModule — Type loading modules
The Base Object Type — The base object type
Enums and Flags — Enumeration and flags types
Boxed Types — A mechanism to wrap opaque C structures registered by the type system
Generic values — A polymorphic type that can hold values of any other type
Parameters and Values — Standard Parameter and Value Types
Varargs Value Collection — Converting varargs to generic values
GParamSpec — Metadata for parameter specifications
Signals — A means for customization of object behaviour and a general purpose notification mechanism
Closures — Functions as first-class objects
Value arrays — A container structure to maintain an array of generic values

III. Tools Reference

glib-mkenums — C language enum description generation utility
glib-genmarshal — C code marshaller generation utility for GLib closures
gobject-query — display a tree of types

IV. Tutorial

How to define and implement a new GObject

Boilerplate header code

Boilerplate code

Object Construction

Object Destruction

Object methods

Non-virtual public methods
Virtual public methods
Virtual private Methods

Chaining up

How to define and implement interfaces

How to define interfaces
How To define implement an Interface?
Interface definition prerequisites
Interface Properties

How to create and use signals

Simple use of signals

V. Related Tools

Vala
GObject builder
Graphical inspection of GObjects
Debugging reference count problems
Writing API docs

Index of deprecated symbols

Index of new symbols in 2.2

Index of new symbols in 2.4

Index of new symbols in 2.6

Index of new symbols in 2.8

Index of new symbols in 2.10

Index of new symbols in 2.12

Index of new symbols in 2.14

Index of new symbols in 2.14