Python/C API Reference Manual ***************************** This manual documents the API used by C and C++ programmers who want to write extension modules or embed Python. It is a companion to Extending and Embedding the Python Interpreter, which describes the general principles of extension writing but does not document the API functions in detail. * Introduction * Include Files * Objects, Types and Reference Counts * Exceptions * Embedding Python * Debugging Builds * The Very High Level Layer * Reference Counting * Exception Handling * Unicode Exception Objects * Recursion Control * Standard Exceptions * Standard Warning Categories * String Exceptions * Utilities * Operating System Utilities * System Functions * Process Control * Importing Modules * Data marshalling support * Parsing arguments and building values * String conversion and formatting * Reflection * Codec registry and support functions * Abstract Objects Layer * Object Protocol * Number Protocol * Sequence Protocol * Mapping Protocol * Iterator Protocol * Old Buffer Protocol * Concrete Objects Layer * Fundamental Objects * Numeric Objects * Sequence Objects * Mapping Objects * Other Objects * Initialization, Finalization, and Threads * Initializing and finalizing the interpreter * Process-wide parameters * Thread State and the Global Interpreter Lock * Sub-interpreter support * Asynchronous Notifications * Profiling and Tracing * Advanced Debugger Support * Memory Management * Overview * Memory Interface * Object allocators * The pymalloc allocator * Examples * Object Implementation Support * Allocating Objects on the Heap * Common Object Structures * Type Objects * Number Object Structures * Mapping Object Structures * Sequence Object Structures * Buffer Object Structures * Supporting Cyclic Garbage Collection