---
name: "pthread_barrier_destroy"
section: "3"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pthread_barrier_destroy"
---

# pthread\_barrier\_destroy(3)

destroy, initialize or wait on a barrier object

## NAME

**pthread\_barrier\_destroy**, **pthread\_barrier\_init**, **pthread\_barrier\_wait** – destroy, initialize or wait on a barrier object

## LIBRARY

POSIX Threads Library (libpthread, -lpthread)

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<pthread.h\>**

*int*\

**pthread\_barrier\_destroy**(*pthread\_barrier\_t \*barrier*);

*int*\

**pthread\_barrier\_init**(*pthread\_barrier\_t \*restrict barrier*, *const pthread\_barrierattr\_t \*attr*, *unsigned count*);

*int*\

**pthread\_barrier\_wait**(*pthread\_barrier\_t \*barrier*);

## DESCRIPTION

The **pthread\_barrier\_init**() function will initialize *barrier* with attributes specified in *attr*, or if it is NULL, with default attributes. The number of threads that must call **pthread\_barrier\_wait**() before any of the waiting threads can be released is specified by *count*. The **pthread\_barrier\_destroy**() function will destroy *barrier* and release any resources that may have been allocated on its behalf.

The **pthread\_barrier\_wait**() function will synchronize calling threads at *barrier*. The threads will be blocked from making further progress until a sufficient number of threads calls this function. The number of threads that must call it before any of them will be released is determined by the *count* argument to **pthread\_barrier\_init**(). Once the threads have been released the barrier will be reset.

## IMPLEMENTATION NOTES

In library “libthr” the PTHREAD\_BARRIER\_SERIAL\_THREAD return value will always be returned by the last thread to reach the barrier.

## RETURN VALUES

If successful, both **pthread\_barrier\_destroy**() and **pthread\_barrier\_init**() will return zero. Otherwise, an error number will be returned to indicate the error. If the call to **pthread\_barrier\_wait**() is successful, all but one of the threads will return zero. That one thread will return PTHREAD\_BARRIER\_SERIAL\_THREAD. Otherwise, an error number will be returned to indicate the error.

None of these functions will return EINTR.

## ERRORS

The **pthread\_barrier\_destroy**() function will fail if:

- \[EBUSY\]

  An attempt was made to destroy *barrier* while it was in use.

The **pthread\_barrier\_destroy**() and **pthread\_barrier\_wait**() functions may fail if:

- \[EINVAL\]

  The value specified by *barrier* is invalid.

The **pthread\_barrier\_init**() function will fail if:

- \[EAGAIN\]

  The system lacks resources, other than memory, to initialize *barrier*.

- \[EINVAL\]

  The *count* argument is less than 1.

- \[ENOMEM\]

  Insufficient memory to initialize *barrier*.

## SEE ALSO

[pthread\_barrierattr(3)](/pthread_barrierattr/3.md)

## HISTORY

The **pthread\_barrier\_destroy**(), **pthread\_barrier\_init**() and **pthread\_barrier\_wait**() functions first appeared in library “libkse” in FreeBSD 5.2, and in library “libthr” in FreeBSD 5.3.