suse man page for list_empty_careful

LIST_EMPTY_CAREFUL(9)						    Data Types						     LIST_EMPTY_CAREFUL(9)

NAME
       list_empty_careful - tests whether a list is empty and not being modified

SYNOPSIS
       int list_empty_careful(const struct list_head * head);

ARGUMENTS
       head
	   the list to test

DESCRIPTION
       tests whether a list is empty _and_ checks that no other CPU might be in the process of modifying either member (next or prev)

NOTE
       using list_empty_careful without synchronization can only be safe if the only activity that can happen to the list entry is list_del_init.
       Eg. it cannot be used if another CPU could re-list_add it.

COPYRIGHT
Kernel Hackers Manual 2.6.					     July 2010						     LIST_EMPTY_CAREFUL(9)