GObject Reference Manual: GObject Reference Manual

for GObject 2.54.2 The latest version of this documentation can be found on-line at https://developer.gnome.org/gobject/unstable/.

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
GObject — The base object type
Enumeration and Flag Types — 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
GParamSpec — Metadata for parameter specifications
Varargs Value Collection — Converting varargs to generic values
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
GBinding — Bind two object properties

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

Defining interfaces
Implementing interfaces
Interface definition prerequisites
Interface properties
Overriding interface methods

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

Annotation Glossary