curl_easy_cleanup(3) Library Functions Manual curl_easy_cleanup(3)
NAME
curl_easy_cleanup - free an easy handle
SYNOPSIS
#include <curl/curl.h>
void curl_easy_cleanup(CURL *handle);
DESCRIPTION
This function is the opposite of curl_easy_init(3). It closes down and
frees all resources previously associated with this easy handle.
This call closes all connections this handle has used and possibly has
kept open until now unless the easy handle was attached to a multi han-
dle while doing the transfers. Do not call this function if you intend
to transfer more files, reusing handles is a key to good performance
with libcurl.
Occasionally you may get your progress callback or header callback
called from within curl_easy_cleanup(3) (if previously set for the han-
dle using curl_easy_setopt(3)). Like if libcurl decides to shut down the
connection and the protocol is of a kind that requires a command/re-
sponse sequence before disconnect. Examples of such protocols are FTP,
POP3 and IMAP.
Any use of the easy handle after this function has been called and have
returned, is illegal.
To close an easy handle that has been used with the multi interface,
make sure to first call curl_multi_remove_handle(3) to remove it from
the multi handle before it is closed.
Passing in a NULL pointer in handle makes this function return immedi-
ately with no action.
PROTOCOLS
This functionality affects all supported protocols
EXAMPLE
int main(void)
{
CURL *curl = curl_easy_init();
if(curl) {
CURLcode res;
curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL, "https://example.com");
res = curl_easy_perform(curl);
if(res)
printf("error: %s\n", curl_easy_strerror(res));
curl_easy_cleanup(curl);
}
}
AVAILABILITY
Added in curl 7.1
RETURN VALUE
None
SEE ALSO
curl_easy_duphandle(3), curl_easy_init(3), curl_easy_reset(3),
curl_multi_cleanup(3), curl_multi_remove_handle(3)
libcurl 2026-07-12 curl_easy_cleanup(3)
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