freebsd man page for device_get_softc

DEVICE_GET_SOFTC(9)					   BSD Kernel Developer's Manual				       DEVICE_GET_SOFTC(9)

NAME
     device_get_softc -- access driver private instance variables

SYNOPSIS
     #include <sys/param.h>
     #include <sys/bus.h>

     void *
     device_get_softc(device_t dev);

DESCRIPTION
     Return the driver-specific software context of dev.  The softc is automatically allocated and zeroed when the device is attached.	The softc
     is also initialized and present when a device is probed, but is subject to caveats as described in DEVICE_PROBE(9).  The size of the alloca-
     tion is determined by the device's driver_t information used to define the driver.  The softc typically encapsulates the state of this
     instance of the device.

     Driver writers are discouraged from using their own softc management mechanisms.  Driver writers should not copy such mechanisms found in
     drivers in the tree that predate this function.

RETURN VALUES
     The pointer to the driver-specific instance variable is returned.

SEE ALSO
     device(9), DEVICE_PROBE(9), device_set_softc(9), driver(9)

AUTHORS
     This manual page was written by Doug Rabson.

BSD
								 January 21, 2015							       BSD