+/**
+ * SECTION:iochannels
+ * @title: IO Channels
+ * @short_description: portable support for using files, pipes and sockets
+ * @see_also: g_io_add_watch(), g_io_add_watch_full(), g_source_remove(),
+ * #GMainLoop
+ *
+ * The #GIOChannel data type aims to provide a portable method for
+ * using file descriptors, pipes, and sockets, and integrating them
+ * into the [main event loop][glib-The-Main-Event-Loop]. Currently,
+ * full support is available on UNIX platforms, support for Windows
+ * is only partially complete.
+ *
+ * To create a new #GIOChannel on UNIX systems use
+ * g_io_channel_unix_new(). This works for plain file descriptors,
+ * pipes and sockets. Alternatively, a channel can be created for a
+ * file in a system independent manner using g_io_channel_new_file().
+ *
+ * Once a #GIOChannel has been created, it can be used in a generic
+ * manner with the functions g_io_channel_read_chars(),
+ * g_io_channel_write_chars(), g_io_channel_seek_position(), and
+ * g_io_channel_shutdown().
+ *
+ * To add a #GIOChannel to the [main event loop][glib-The-Main-Event-Loop],
+ * use g_io_add_watch() or g_io_add_watch_full(). Here you specify which
+ * events you are interested in on the #GIOChannel, and provide a
+ * function to be called whenever these events occur.
+ *
+ * #GIOChannel instances are created with an initial reference count of 1.
+ * g_io_channel_ref() and g_io_channel_unref() can be used to
+ * increment or decrement the reference count respectively. When the
+ * reference count falls to 0, the #GIOChannel is freed. (Though it
+ * isn't closed automatically, unless it was created using
+ * g_io_channel_new_file().) Using g_io_add_watch() or
+ * g_io_add_watch_full() increments a channel's reference count.
+ *
+ * The new functions g_io_channel_read_chars(),
+ * g_io_channel_read_line(), g_io_channel_read_line_string(),
+ * g_io_channel_read_to_end(), g_io_channel_write_chars(),
+ * g_io_channel_seek_position(), and g_io_channel_flush() should not be
+ * mixed with the deprecated functions g_io_channel_read(),
+ * g_io_channel_write(), and g_io_channel_seek() on the same channel.
+ **/