cairo/doc/reference/xml/cairo_reference.xml

<refentry id="cairo_reference">
  <refmeta>
    <refentrytitle>cairo_reference</refentrytitle>
    <manvolnum>3</manvolnum>
  </refmeta>
  <refnamediv>
    <refname>cairo_reference</refname>
    <refpurpose>increase reference count of <link linkend="cairo_t">cairo_t</link></refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>
  <refsynopsisdiv>
    <programlisting>
void cairo_reference (<link linkend="cairo_t">cairo_t</link> *cr)</programlisting>
    <variablelist role="params">
      <varlistentry>
        <term><parameter>cr</parameter> :</term>
        <listitem>
          <simpara>a <link linkend="cairo_t">cairo_t</link></simpara>
        </listitem>
      </varlistentry>
    </variablelist>
  </refsynopsisdiv>
  <refsect1>
    <title>Description</title>
    <para>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>functions</primary>
        <secondary>cairo_reference</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <indexterm>
        <primary/>
      </indexterm>
      When calling <function>cairo_reference</function> the reference count will be increased by one and the caller becomes owner of the <link linkend="cairo_t">cairo_t</link>. When the creator of the <link linkend="cairo_t">cairo_t</link> destroys the the object via <link linkend="cairo_destroy">cairo_destroy</link> the refcount will be decreased but the object will stay valid, since you are still owner of the object.
    </para>
  </refsect1>
</refentry>