curl/docs/curl_easy_init.3

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.TH curl_easy_init 3 "5 March 2001" "libcurl 7.7" "libcurl Manual"
.SH NAME
curl_easy_init - Start a libcurl session
.SH SYNOPSIS
.B #include <curl/curl.h>
.sp
.BI "CURL *curl_easy_init( );"
.ad
.SH DESCRIPTION
This function must be the first function to call, and it returns a CURL handle
that you shall use as input to the other easy-functions. The init calls
intializes curl and this call MUST have a corresponding call to
.I curl_easy_cleanup
when the operation is complete.

On win32 systems, you need to init the winsock stuff manually, libcurl will
not do that for you. WSAStartup() and WSACleanup() should be used accordingly.

Using libcurl 7.7 and later, you should perform all your sequential file
transfers using the same curl handle. This enables libcurl to use persistant
connections where possible.
.SH RETURN VALUE
If this function returns NULL, something went wrong and you cannot use the
other curl functions.
.SH "SEE ALSO"
.BR curl_easy_cleanup "(3), "
.SH BUGS
Surely there are some, you tell me!