GType The GLib Runtime type identification and management system The GType API is the foundation of the GObject system. It provides the facilities for registering and managing all fundamental data types, user-defined object and interface types. Before using any GType or GObject functions, g_type_init() must be called to initialize the type system. For type creation and registration purposes, all types fall into one of two categories: static or dynamic. Static types are never loaded or unloaded at run-time as dynamic types may be. Static types are created with g_type_register_static() that gets type specific information passed in via a #GTypeInfo structure. Dynamic types are created with g_type_register_dynamic() which takes a #GTypePlugin structure instead. The remaining type information (the #GTypeInfo structure) is retrived during runtime through #GTypePlugin and the g_type_plugin_*() API. These registration functions are usually called only once from a function whose only purpose is to return the type identifier for a specific class. Once the type (or class or interface) is registered, it may be instantiated, inherited, or implemented depending on exactly what sort of type it is. There is also a third registration function for registering fundamental types called g_type_register_fundamental() which requires both a #GTypeInfo structure and a GTypeFundamentalInfo structure but it is seldom used since most fundamental types are predefined rather than user-defined. A numerical value which represents the unique identifier of a registered type. Returns #TRUE if @type is a fundamental data type such as #G_TYPE_INT or #G_TYPE_POINTER. Fundamental types are types that serve as fundaments for the derived types, thus they are the roots of distinct inheritance hierarchies. @type: A #GType value. An integer constant that represents the number of identifiers reserved for types that are assigned at compile-time. Returns #TRUE if @type is an abstract type. An abstract type can not be instantiated and is normally used as an abstract base class for derived classes. @type: A #GType value. Returns #TRUE if @type is derived (or in object-oriented terminology: inherited) from another type (this holds true for all non-fundamental types). @type: A #GType value. Returns #TRUE if @type is a fundamental type. @type: A #GType value. @type: A #GType value. @type: Returns #TRUE if @type is a classed type. @type: A #GType value. Returns #TRUE if @type can be instantiated. Instantiation is the process of creating an instance (object) of this type. @type: A #GType value. Returns #TRUE if @type is a derivable type. A derivable type can be used as the base class of a flat (single-level) class hierarchy. @type: A #GType value. Returns #TRUE if @type is a deep derivable type. A deep derivable type can be used as the base class of a deep (multi-level) class hierarchy. @type: A #GType value. Returns #TRUE if @type is an interface type. Interface types are types that provide pure APIs, the implementation of which is provided by another type (which is then said to conform to the interface). GLib interfaces are somewhat analogous to Java interfaces and C++ classes containing only pure virtual functions. @type: A #GType value. The predefined identifiers of the reserved fundamental types. @G_TYPE_INVALID: Usually a return value indicating an error. @G_TYPE_NONE: A synonym for the "void" type in C. @G_TYPE_INTERFACE: Root type of all interface types. @G_TYPE_CHAR: Identifier for the built-in type "gchar". @G_TYPE_UCHAR: Identifier for the built-in type "guchar". @G_TYPE_BOOLEAN: Identifier for the built-in type "gboolean". @G_TYPE_INT: Identifier for the built-in type "gint". @G_TYPE_UINT: Identifier for the built-in type "guint". @G_TYPE_LONG: Identifier for the built-in type "glong". @G_TYPE_ULONG: Identifier for the built-in type "gulong". @G_TYPE_INT64: @G_TYPE_UINT64: @G_TYPE_ENUM: Identifier for the "#GEnum" type. @G_TYPE_FLAGS: Identifier for the "#GFlags" type. @G_TYPE_FLOAT: Identifier for the built-in type "gfloat". @G_TYPE_DOUBLE: Identifier for the built-in type "gdouble". @G_TYPE_STRING: Identifier for a pointer to a null-terminated string "gchar*". @G_TYPE_POINTER: Identifier for anonymous pointers "void*". @G_TYPE_BOXED: Identifier for the "#GBoxed" type. @G_TYPE_PARAM: Identifier for the "#GParam" type. @G_TYPE_OBJECT: Identifier for the "#GObject" type. @G_TYPE_RESERVED_BSE_FIRST: First fundamental type ID reserved for BSE. @G_TYPE_RESERVED_BSE_LAST: Last fundamental type ID reserved for BSE. @G_TYPE_RESERVED_LAST_FUNDAMENTAL: @G_TYPE_CONSTANT_TYPES: @G_TYPE_CLOSURE: @G_TYPE_VALUE: @G_TYPE_VALUE_ARRAY: @G_TYPE_GSTRING: @G_TYPE_PARAM_CHAR: @G_TYPE_PARAM_UCHAR: @G_TYPE_PARAM_BOOLEAN: @G_TYPE_PARAM_INT: @G_TYPE_PARAM_UINT: @G_TYPE_PARAM_LONG: @G_TYPE_PARAM_ULONG: @G_TYPE_PARAM_INT64: @G_TYPE_PARAM_UINT64: @G_TYPE_PARAM_UNICHAR: @G_TYPE_PARAM_ENUM: @G_TYPE_PARAM_FLAGS: @G_TYPE_PARAM_FLOAT: @G_TYPE_PARAM_DOUBLE: @G_TYPE_PARAM_STRING: @G_TYPE_PARAM_PARAM: @G_TYPE_PARAM_BOXED: @G_TYPE_PARAM_POINTER: @G_TYPE_PARAM_VALUE_ARRAY: @G_TYPE_PARAM_CLOSURE: @G_TYPE_PARAM_OBJECT: An opaque structure used as the base of all interface types. An opaque structure used as the base of all type instances. This structure is used to provide the type system with the information required to initialize and destruct (finalize) a type's class and instances thereof. The initialized structure is passed to the g_type_register_static() function (or is copied into the provided #GTypeInfo structure in the g_type_plugin_complete_type_info()). The type system will perform a deep copy of this structure, so it's memory does not need to be persistent across invocation of g_type_register_static(). @class_size: Size of the class structure (required for interface, classed and instantiatable types). @base_init: Location of the base initialization function (optional). @base_finalize: Location of the base finalization function (optional). @class_init: Location of the class initialization function (optional, for classed and instantiatable types only). @class_finalize: Location of the class finalization function (optional). @class_data: User-supplied data passed to the class init/finalize functions. @instance_size: Size of the instance (object) structure (required for instantiatable types only). @n_preallocs: Number of pre-allocated (cached) instances to reserve memory for (0 indicates no caching). @instance_init: Location of the instance initialization function (optional, for instantiatable types only). @value_table: A #GTypeValueTable function table for generic handling of GValues of this type (usualy only useful for fundamental types). A structure that provides information to the type system which is used specifically for managing fundamental types. @type_flags: A structure that provides information to the type system which is used specifically for managing interface types. @interface_init: Location of the function that initializes the interface. @interface_finalize: Location of the function that finalizes the interface. @interface_data: Location of user data passed to the @interface_init and @interface_finalize functions (optional). The #GTypeValueTable provides the functions required by the #GValue implementation, to serve as a container for values of a type. @value_init: Default initialize @values contents by poking values directly into the value->data array. The data array of the #GValue passed into this function was zero-filled with memset, so no care has to be taken to free any old contents. E.g. for the implementation of a string value that may never be NULL, the implementation might look like: { value->data[0].v_pointer = g_strdup (""); } @value_free: Free any old contents that might be left in the data array of the passed in @value. No resources may remain allocated through the #GValue contents after this function returns. E.g. for our above string type: { /* only free strings without a specific flag for static storage */ if (!(value->data[1].v_uint & G_VALUE_NOCOPY_CONTENTS)) g_free (value->data[0].v_pointer); } @value_copy: @dest_value is a #GValue with zero-filled data section and @src_value is a properly setup #GValue of same or derived type. The purpose of this function is to copy the contents of @src_value into @dest_value in a way, that even after @src_value has been freed, the contents of @dest_value remain valid. String type example: { dest_value->data[0].v_pointer = g_strdup (src_value->data[0].v_pointer); } @value_peek_pointer: If the value contents fit into a pointer, such as objects or strings, return this pointer, so the caller can peek at the current contents. To extend on our above string example: { return value->data[0].v_pointer; } @collect_format: A string format describing how to collect the contents of this value, bit-by-bit. Each character in the format represents an argument to be collected, the characters themselves indicate the type of the argument. Currently supported arguments are: 'i' - Integers. passed as collect_values[].v_int. 'l' - Longs. passed as collect_values[].v_long. 'd' - Doubles. passed as collect_values[].v_double. 'p' - Pointers. passed as collect_values[].v_pointer. It should be noted, that for variable argument list construction, ANSI C promotes every type smaller than an integer to an int, and floats to doubles. So for collection of short int or char, 'i' needs to be used, and for collection of floats 'd'. @collect_value: The collect_value() function is responsible for converting the values collected from a variable argument list into contents suitable for storage in a GValue. This function should setup @value similar to value_init(), e.g. for a string value that does not allow NULL pointers, it needs to either spew an error, or do an implicit conversion by storing an empty string. The @value passed in to this function has a zero-filled data array, so just like for @value_init it is guaranteed to not contain any old contents that might need freeing. @n_collect_values is exactly the string length of @collect_format, and @collect_values is an array of unions #GTypeCValue with length @n_collect_values, containing the collected values according to @collect_format. @collect_flags is an argument provided as a hint by the caller, which may contain the flag #G_VALUE_NOCOPY_CONTENTS indicating, that the collected value contents may be considered "static" for the duration of the #@value lifetime. Thus an extra copy of the contents stored in @collect_values is not required for assignment to @value. For our above string example, we continue with: { if (!collect_values[0].v_pointer) value->data[0].v_pointer = g_strdup (""); else if (collect_flags & G_VALUE_NOCOPY_CONTENTS) { value->data[0].v_pointer = collect_values[0].v_pointer; /* keep a flag for the value_free() implementation to not free this string */ value->data[1].v_uint = G_VALUE_NOCOPY_CONTENTS; } else value->data[0].v_pointer = g_strdup (collect_values[0].v_pointer); return NULL; } It should be noted, that it is generally a bad idea to follow the #G_VALUE_NOCOPY_CONTENTS hint for reference counted types. Due to reentrancy requirements and reference count assertions performed by the GSignal code, reference counts should always be incremented for reference counted contents stored in the value->data array. To deviate from our string example for a moment, and taking a look at an exemplary implementation for collect_value() of #GObject: { if (collect_values[0].v_pointer) { GObject *object = G_OBJECT (collect_values[0].v_pointer); /* never honour G_VALUE_NOCOPY_CONTENTS for ref-counted types */ value->data[0].v_pointer = g_object_ref (object); return NULL; } else return g_strdup_printf ("Object passed as invalid NULL pointer"); } The reference count for valid objects is always incremented, regardless of @collect_flags. For invalid objects, the example returns a newly allocated string without altering @value. Upon success, collect_value() needs to return NULL, if however a malicious condition occurred, collect_value() may spew an error by returning a newly allocated non-NULL string, giving a suitable description of the error condition. The calling code makes no assumptions about the @value contents being valid upon error returns, @value is simply thrown away without further freeing. As such, it is a good idea to not allocate #GValue contents, prior to returning an error, however, collect_values() is not obliged to return a correctly setup @value for error returns, simply because any non-NULL return is considered a fatal condition so further program behaviour is undefined. @lcopy_format: Format description of the arguments to collect for @lcopy_value, analogous to @collect_format. Usually, @lcopy_format string consists only of 'p's to provide lcopy_value() with pointers to storage locations. @lcopy_value: This function is responsible for storing the @value contents into arguments passed through a variable argument list which got collected into @collect_values according to @lcopy_format. @n_collect_values equals the string length of @lcopy_format, and @collect_flags may contain #G_VALUE_NOCOPY_CONTENTS. In contrast to collect_value(), lcopy_value() is obliged to always properly support #G_VALUE_NOCOPY_CONTENTS. Similar to collect_value() the function may prematurely abort by returning a newly allocated string describing an error condition. To complete the string example: { gchar **string_p = collect_values[0].v_pointer; if (!string_p) return g_strdup_printf ("string location passed as NULL"); if (collect_flags & G_VALUE_NOCOPY_CONTENTS) *string_p = value->data[0].v_pointer; else *string_p = g_strdup (value->data[0].v_pointer); } And an exemplary version of lcopy_value() for reference-counted types: { GObject **object_p = collect_values[0].v_pointer; if (!object_p) return g_strdup_printf ("object location passed as NULL"); if (!value->data[0].v_pointer) *object_p = NULL; else if (collect_flags & G_VALUE_NOCOPY_CONTENTS) /* always honour */ *object_p = value->data[0].v_pointer; else *object_p = g_object_ref (value->data[0].v_pointer); return NULL; } Returns the type identifier from a given @instance structure. @instance: Location of a valid #GTypeInstance structure. Returns the type identifier from a given @class structure. @g_class: Location of a valid #GTypeClass structure. Returns the type identifier from a given @interface structure. @g_iface: Location of a valid #GTypeInterface structure. Returns the class structure of a given @instance, casted to a specified anchestor type @g_type of the instance. @instance: Location of the #GTypeInstance structure. @g_type: The anchestor type of the class to be returned. @c_type: The corresponding C type of @g_Type. @instance: @g_type: @c_type: @instance: @instance: @g_type: @c_type: @instance: @g_type: @g_class: @g_type: @c_type: @g_class: @g_type: @value: @value: @g_type: Prior to any use of the type system, g_type_init() has to be called to initialize the type system and assorted other code portions (such as the various fundamental type implementations or the signal system). @debug_flags: Bitwise combination of #GTypeDebugFlags values for debugging purposes. @G_TYPE_DEBUG_NONE: @G_TYPE_DEBUG_OBJECTS: @G_TYPE_DEBUG_SIGNALS: @G_TYPE_DEBUG_MASK: @debug_flags: Return the unique name that is assigned to a type ID (this is the preferred method to find out whether a specific type has been registered for the passed in ID yet). @type: Type to return name for. @Returns: Static type name or NULL. Return the corresponding quark of the type IDs name. @type: Type to return quark of type name for. @Returns: The type names quark or 0. Lookup the type ID from a given type name, returns 0 if no type has been registered under this name (this is the preferred method to find out by name whether a specific type has been registered yet). @name: Type name to lookup. @Returns: Corresponding type ID or 0. Return the direct parent type of the passed in type. If the passed in type has no parent, i.e. is a fundamental type, 0 is returned. @type: The derived type. @Returns: The parent type. @type: @Returns: Given a @leaf_type and a @root_type which is contained in its anchestry, return the type that @root_type is the immediate parent of. In other words, this function determines the type that is derived directly from @root_type which is also a base class of @leaf_type. Given a root type and a leaf type, this function can be used to determine the types and order in which the leaf type is descended from the root type. @leaf_type: Descendant of @root_type and the type to be returned. @root_type: Immediate parent of the returned type. @Returns: Immediate child of @root_type and anchestor of @leaf_type. Check whether @type is a descendant of @is_a_type. @type: Type to check anchestry for. @is_a_type: Possible anchestor of @type. @Returns: %TRUE if @type is_a @is_a_type holds true. Increments the reference count of the class structure belonging to @type. This function will demand-create the class if it doesn't exist already. @type: Type ID of a classed type. @Returns: The #GTypeClass structure for the given type ID. This function is essentially the same as g_type_class_ref(), except that the classes reference count isn't incremented. Therefore, this function may return NULL if the class of the type passed in does not currently exist (hasn't been referenced before). @type: Type ID of a classed type. @Returns: The #GTypeClass structure for the given type ID or NULL if the class does not currently exist. Decrements the reference count of the class structure being passed in. Once the last reference count of a class has been released, classes may be finalized by the type system, so further dereferencing of a class pointer after g_type_class_unref() are invalid. @g_class: The #GTypeClass structure to unreference. This is a convenience function, often needed in class intializers. It essentially takes the immediate parent type of the class passed in, and returns the class structure thereof. Since derived classes hold a reference count on their parent classes as long as they are instantiated, the returned class will always exist. This function is essentially equivalent to: g_type_class_peek (g_type_parent (G_TYPE_FROM_CLASS (g_class))); @g_class: The #GTypeClass structure to retrieve the parent class for. @Returns: The parent class of @g_class. @instance_class: @iface_type: @Returns: @g_iface: @Returns: Return a newly allocated and 0 terminated array of type IDs, listing the child types of @type. The return value has to be g_free()ed after use. @type: The parent type. @n_children: Optional #guint pointer to contain the number of child types. @Returns: Newly allocated and 0 terminated array of child types. Return a newly allocated and 0 terminated array of type IDs, listing the interface types that @type conforms to. The return value has to be g_free()ed after use. @type: The type to list interface types for. @n_interfaces: Optional #guint pointer to contain the number of interface types. @Returns: Newly allocated and 0 terminated array of interface types. @type: @quark: @data: @type: @quark: @Returns: @type: @query: @type: @type_name: @class_size: @instance_size: A callback function used by the type system to do base initialization of the class structures of derived types. It is called as part of the initialization process of all derived classes and should reallocate or reset all dynamic class members copied over from the parent class. Therefore class members, e.g. strings, that are not sufficiently handled by a plain memory copy of the parent class into the derived class have to be altered. See GClassInitFunc() for a discussion of the class intialization process. @g_class: The #GTypeClass structure to initialize. A callback function used by the type system to finalize those portions of a derived types class structure that were setup from the corresponding GBaseInitFunc() function. Class finalization basically works the inverse way in which class intialization is performed. See GClassInitFunc() for a discussion of the class intialization process. @g_class: The #GTypeClass structure to finalize. A callback function used by the type system to initialize the class of a specific type. This function should initialize all static class members. The initialization process of a class involves: 1 - Copying common members from the parent class over to the derived class structure. 2 - Zero initialization of the remaining members not copied over from the parent class. 3 - Invocation of the GBaseInitFunc initializers of all parent types and the class' type. 4 - Invocation of the class' GClassInitFunc initializer. Since derived classes are partially initialized through a memory copy of the parent class, the general rule is that GBaseInitFunc() and GBaseFinalizeFunc() should take care of necessary reinitialization and release of those class members that were introduced by the type that specified these GBaseInitFunc()/GBaseFinalizeFunc(). GClassInitFunc() should only care about intializing static class members, while dynamic class members (such as allocated strings or reference counted resources) are better handled by a GBaseInitFunc() for this type, so proper initialization of the dynamic class members are performed for class intialization of derived types as well. An example may help to correspond the intend of the different class initializers: typedef struct { GObjectClass parent_class; gint static_integer; gchar *dynamic_string; } TypeAClass; static void type_a_base_class_init (TypeAClass *class) { class->dynamic_string = g_strdup ("some string"); } static void type_a_base_class_finalize (TypeAClass *class) { g_free (class->dynamic_string); } static void type_a_class_init (TypeAClass *class) { class->static_integer = 42; } typedef struct { TypeAClass parent_class; gfloat static_float; GString *dynamic_gstring; } TypeBClass; static void type_b_base_class_init (TypeBClass *class) { class->dynamic_gstring = g_string_new ("some other string); } static void type_b_base_class_finalize (TypeBClass *class) { g_string_free (class->dynamic_gstring); } static void type_b_class_init (TypeBClass *class) { class->static_float = 3.14159265358979323846; } Initialization of TypeBClass will first cause initialization of TypeAClass (derived classes reference their parent classes, see g_type_class_ref() on this). Initialization of TypeAClass roughly involves zero-initializing its fields, then calling its GBaseInitFunc() type_a_base_class_init() that allocates its dynamic members (dynamic_string) and finally calling its GClassInitFunc() type_a_class_init() to initialize its static members (static_integer). The first step in the initialization process of TypeBClass is then a plain memory copy of the contents of TypeAClass into TypeBClass and zero-initialization of the remaining fields in TypeBClass. The dynamic members of TypeAClass within TypeBClass now need reinitialization which is performed by calling type_a_base_class_init() with an argument of TypeBClass. After that, the GBaseInitFunc() of TypeBClass, type_b_base_class_init() is called to allocate the dynamic members of TypeBClass (dynamic_gstring), and finally the GClassInitFunc() of TypeBClass, type_b_class_init(), is called to complete the initialization process with the static members (static_float). Corresponding finalization counter parts to the GBaseInitFunc() functions have to be provided to release allocated resources at class finalization time. @g_class: The #GTypeClass structure to initialize. @class_data: The @class_data member supplied via the #GTypeInfo structure. A callback function used by the type system to finalize a class. This function is rarely needed, as dynamically allocated class resources should be handled by GBaseInitFunc() and GBaseFinalizeFunc(). Also, specification of a GClassFinalizeFunc in the #GTypeInfo structure of a static type is invalid, because classes of static types will never be finalized (they are artificially kept alive when their reference count drops to zero). @g_class: The #GTypeClass structure to finalize. @class_data: The @class_data member supplied via the #GTypeInfo structure. A callback function used by the type system to initialize a new instance of a type. This function initializes all instance members and allocates any resources required by it. Initialization of a derived instance involves calling all its parent types instance initializers, therefore the class member of the instance is altered during its initialization to always point to the class that belongs to the type the current initializer was introduced for. @instance: The instance to initialize. @g_class: The class of the type the instance is created for. A callback function used by the type system to initialize a new interface. This function should initialize all internal data and allocate any resources required by the interface. @g_iface: The interface structure to initialize. @iface_data: The @class_data supplied via the #GTypeInfo structure. A callback function used by the type system to finalize an interface. This function should destroy any internal data and release any resources allocated by the corresponding GInterfaceInitFunc() function. @g_iface: The interface structure to finalize. @iface_data: The @class_data supplied via the #GTypeInfo structure. @cache_data: @g_class: @Returns: Bit masks used to check or determine characteristics of a type. @G_TYPE_FLAG_ABSTRACT: Indicates an abstract type. No instances can be created for an abstract type. @G_TYPE_FLAG_VALUE_ABSTRACT: Bit masks used to check or determine specific characteristics of a fundamental type. @G_TYPE_FLAG_CLASSED: Indicates a classed type. @G_TYPE_FLAG_INSTANTIATABLE: Indicates an instantiable type (implies classed). @G_TYPE_FLAG_DERIVABLE: Indicates a flat derivable type. @G_TYPE_FLAG_DEEP_DERIVABLE: Indicates a deep derivable type (implies derivable). Registers @type_name as the name of a new static type derived from @parent_type. The type system uses the information contained in the #GTypeInfo structure pointed to by @info to manage the type and its instances (if not abstract). The value of @flags determines the nature (e.g. abstract or not) of the type. @parent_type: Type which this type will be derived from. @type_name: Null-terminated string used as the name of the new type. @info: The #GTypeInfo structure for this type. @flags: Bitwise combination of #GTypeFlags values. @Returns: The new type identifier. Registers @type_name as the name of a new dynamic type derived from @parent_type. The type system uses the information contained in the #GTypePlugin structure pointed to by @plugin to manage the type and its instances (if not abstract). The value of @flags determines the nature (e.g. abstract or not) of the type. @parent_type: Type which this type will be derived from. @type_name: Null-terminated string used as the name of the new type. @plugin: The #GTypePlugin structure to retrive the #GTypeInfo from. @flags: Bitwise combination of #GTypeFlags values. @Returns: The new type identifier. @Returns: #G_TYPE_INVALID if registration failed or the new type identifier. Registers @type_id as the predefined identifier and @type_name as the name of a fundamental type. The type system uses the information contained in the #GTypeInfo structure pointed to by @info and the #GTypeFundamentalInfo structure pointed to by @finfo to manage the type and its instances. The value of @flags determines additional characteristics of the fundamental type. @type_id: A predefined #GTypeFundamentals value. @type_name: Null-terminated string used as the name of the new type. @info: The #GTypeInfo structure for this type. @finfo: The #GTypeFundamentalInfo structure for this type. @flags: Bitwise combination of #GTypeFlags values. @Returns: The predefined type identifier. Adds the static @interface_type to @instantiable_type. The information contained in the #GTypeInterfaceInfo structure pointed to by @info is used to manage the relationship. @instance_type: #GType value of an instantiable type. @interface_type: #GType value of an interface type. @info: The #GInterfaceInfo structure for this (@instance_type, @interface_type) combination. @instance_type: @interface_type: @plugin: @interface_type: @prerequisite_type: Returns the the #GTypePlugin structure for @type or #NULL if @type does not have a #GTypePlugin structure. @type: The #GType to retrive the plugin for. @Returns: The corresponding plugin if @type is a dynamic type, NULL otherwise. @instance_type: @implementation_type: @Returns: Returns the next free fundamental type id which can be used to register a new fundamental type with g_type_register_fundamental(). The returned type ID represents the highest currently registered fundamental type identifier. @Returns: The nextmost fundamental type ID to be registered, or 0 if the type system ran out of fundamental type IDs. Internal function, used to extract the fundamental type ID portion. use G_TYPE_FUNDAMENTAL() instead. @type_id: valid type ID @Returns: fundamental type ID Creates and initializes an instance of @type if @type is valid and can be instantiated. The type system only performs basic allocation and structure setups for instances, actual instance creation should happen through functions supplied by the type's fundamental type implementation. So use of g_type_create_instance() is reserved for implementators of fundamental types only. E.g. instances of the #GObject hierarchy should be created via g_object_new() and never directly through g_type_create_instance() which doesn't handle things like singleton objects or object construction. Note: Do not use this function, unless you're implementing a fundamental type. Also language bindings should not use this function but g_object_new() instead. @type: An instantiabtable type to create an instance for. @Returns: An allocated and initialized instance, subject to further treatment by the fundamental type implementation. @instance: @cache_data: @cache_func: @cache_data: @cache_func: @g_class: Returns the location of the #GTypeValueTable associated with @type. Note, this function should only be used from source code that implements or has internal knowledge of the implementation of @type. @type: A #GType value. @Returns: Location of the #GTypeValueTable associated with @type or #NULL if there is no #GTypeValueTable associated with @type.