The adr_name_t type represents an object name. The internal structure of an adr_name_t is private. All operations on an adr_name_t are performed using accessor functions provided by libadr. Like adr_data_t values, adr_name_t values are immutable and reference counted. The following functions are provided for handling adr_name_t reference counts:
adr_name_t *adr_name_hold(adr_data_t *name); void adr_name_rele(adr_name_t *name);
The reference count on the adr_name_t name is incremented with adr_name_hold. For convenience, adr_name_hold returns name. Symmetrically, the reference count on the adr_name_t name is decremented with adr_name_rele. When then last reference on an adr_name_t is released, the name is freed; after calling adr_name_rele the caller must not access name in any way. Neither adr_name_hold nor adr_name_rele can fail.