---
name: "CURLOPT_MAXLIFETIME_CONN"
section: "3"
platform: "macos"
package: "curl"
version: "166.0.0.0.1"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/CURLOPT_MAXLIFETIME_CONN"
---

# CURLOPT\_MAXLIFETIME\_CONN(3)

max lifetime (since creation) allowed for reusing a connection

## NAME

CURLOPT\_MAXLIFETIME\_CONN - max lifetime (since creation) allowed for reusing a connection

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <curl/curl.h>
CURLcode curl_easy_setopt(CURL *handle, CURLOPT_MAXLIFETIME_CONN,
                          long maxlifetime);
```

## DESCRIPTION

Pass a long as parameter containing *maxlifetime* - the maximum time in seconds, since the creation of the connection, that you allow an existing connection to have to be considered for reuse for this request.

libcurl features a connection cache that holds previously used connections. When a new request is to be done, libcurl considers any connection that matches for reuse. The *[CURLOPT\_MAXLIFETIME\_CONN(3)](/CURLOPT_MAXLIFETIME_CONN/3.md)* limit prevents libcurl from trying too old connections for reuse. This can be used for client-side load balancing. If a connection is found in the cache that is older than this set *maxlifetime*, it is instead marked for closure.

If set to 0, this behavior is disabled: all connections are eligible for reuse.

## DEFAULT

Default *maxlifetime* is 0 seconds (i.e., disabled).

## PROTOCOLS

All

## EXAMPLE

```
int main(void)
{
  CURL *curl = curl_easy_init();
  if(curl) {
    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL, "https://example.com");
    /* only allow each connection to be reused for 30 seconds */
    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_MAXLIFETIME_CONN, 30L);
    curl_easy_perform(curl);
  }
}
```

## AVAILABILITY

Added in 7.80.0

## RETURN VALUE

Returns CURLE\_OK.

## SEE ALSO

[**CURLOPT\_FORBID\_REUSE**(3)](/CURLOPT_FORBID_REUSE/3.md), [**CURLOPT\_FRESH\_CONNECT**(3)](/CURLOPT_FRESH_CONNECT/3.md), [**CURLOPT\_MAXAGE\_CONN**(3)](/CURLOPT_MAXAGE_CONN/3.md), [**CURLOPT\_TIMEOUT**(3)](/CURLOPT_TIMEOUT/3.md)