A simple refcounted data type representing an immutable byte sequence
from an unspecified origin.
The purpose of a GBytes is to keep the memory region that it holds
alive for as long as anyone holds a reference to the bytes. When
the last reference count is dropped, the memory is released. Multiple
unrelated callers can use byte data in the GBytes without coordinating
their activities, resting assured that the byte data will not change or
move while they hold a reference.
A GBytes can come from many different origins that may have
different procedures for freeing the memory region. Examples are
memory from g_malloc(), from memory slices, from a GMappedFile or
memory from other allocators.
GBytes work well as keys in GHashTable. Use g_bytes_equal() and
g_bytes_hash() as parameters to g_hash_table_new() or g_hash_table_new_full().
GBytes can also be used as keys in a GTree by passing the g_bytes_compare()
function to g_tree_new().
The data pointed to by this bytes must not be modified. For a mutable
array of bytes see GByteArray. Use g_bytes_unref_to_array() to create a
mutable array for a GBytes sequence. To create an immutable GBytes from
a mutable GByteArray, use the g_byte_array_free_to_bytes() function.
Since 2.32
A simple refcounted data type representing an immutable byte sequence from an unspecified origin. The purpose of a GBytes is to keep the memory region that it holds alive for as long as anyone holds a reference to the bytes. When the last reference count is dropped, the memory is released. Multiple unrelated callers can use byte data in the GBytes without coordinating their activities, resting assured that the byte data will not change or move while they hold a reference. A GBytes can come from many different origins that may have different procedures for freeing the memory region. Examples are memory from g_malloc(), from memory slices, from a GMappedFile or memory from other allocators. GBytes work well as keys in GHashTable. Use g_bytes_equal() and g_bytes_hash() as parameters to g_hash_table_new() or g_hash_table_new_full(). GBytes can also be used as keys in a GTree by passing the g_bytes_compare() function to g_tree_new(). The data pointed to by this bytes must not be modified. For a mutable array of bytes see GByteArray. Use g_bytes_unref_to_array() to create a mutable array for a GBytes sequence. To create an immutable GBytes from a mutable GByteArray, use the g_byte_array_free_to_bytes() function. Since 2.32