GTask

## GTask GTask — Cancellable synchronous or asynchronous task and result |

## Synopsis

    #include <gio/gio.h>

                        GTask;
    GTask *             g_task_new                          (gpointer source_object,
                                                             GCancellable *cancellable,
                                                             GAsyncReadyCallback callback,
                                                             gpointer callback_data);
    void                g_task_set_task_data                (GTask *task,
                                                             gpointer task_data,
                                                             GDestroyNotify task_data_destroy);
    void                g_task_set_priority                 (GTask *task,
                                                             gint priority);
    void                g_task_set_check_cancellable        (GTask *task,
                                                             gboolean check_cancellable);
    gboolean            g_task_set_return_on_cancel         (GTask *task,
                                                             gboolean return_on_cancel);
    void                g_task_set_source_tag               (GTask *task,
                                                             gpointer source_tag);

    void                g_task_report_error                 (gpointer source_object,
                                                             GAsyncReadyCallback callback,
                                                             gpointer callback_data,
                                                             gpointer source_tag,
                                                             GError *error);
    void                g_task_report_new_error             (gpointer source_object,
                                                             GAsyncReadyCallback callback,
                                                             gpointer callback_data,
                                                             gpointer source_tag,
                                                             GQuark domain,
                                                             gint code,
                                                             const char *format,
                                                             ...);

    gpointer            g_task_get_task_data                (GTask *task);
    gint                g_task_get_priority                 (GTask *task);
    GCancellable *      g_task_get_cancellable              (GTask *task);
    gboolean            g_task_get_check_cancellable        (GTask *task);
    gboolean            g_task_get_return_on_cancel         (GTask *task);
    GMainContext *      g_task_get_context                  (GTask *task);
    gpointer            g_task_get_source_object            (GTask *task);
    gpointer            g_task_get_source_tag               (GTask *task);

    void                g_task_return_boolean               (GTask *task,
                                                             gboolean result);
    void                g_task_return_int                   (GTask *task,
                                                             gssize result);
    void                g_task_return_pointer               (GTask *task,
                                                             gpointer result,
                                                             GDestroyNotify result_destroy);
    void                g_task_return_error                 (GTask *task,
                                                             GError *error);
    void                g_task_return_new_error             (GTask *task,
                                                             GQuark domain,
                                                             gint code,
                                                             const char *format,
                                                             ...);
    gboolean            g_task_return_error_if_cancelled    (GTask *task);

    gboolean            g_task_propagate_boolean            (GTask *task,
                                                             GError **error);
    gssize              g_task_propagate_int                (GTask *task,
                                                             GError **error);
    gpointer            g_task_propagate_pointer            (GTask *task,
                                                             GError **error);
    gboolean            g_task_had_error                    (GTask *task);

    void                g_task_run_in_thread                (GTask *task,
                                                             GTaskThreadFunc task_func);
    void                g_task_run_in_thread_sync           (GTask *task,
                                                             GTaskThreadFunc task_func);
    void                (*GTaskThreadFunc)                  (GTask *task,
                                                             gpointer source_object,
                                                             gpointer task_data,
                                                             GCancellable *cancellable);
    void                g_task_attach_source                (GTask *task,
                                                             GSource *source,
                                                             GSourceFunc callback);

    gboolean            g_task_is_valid                     (gpointer result,
                                                             gpointer source_object);

## Object Hierarchy

      GObject
       +----GTask

## Implemented Interfaces

GTask implements GAsyncResult.

## Description

A GTask represents and manages a cancellable "task".

### Asynchronous operations

The most common usage of GTask is as a GAsyncResult, to manage data during an asynchronous operation. You call `g_task_new()` in the "start" method, followed by `g_task_set_task_data()` and the like if you need to keep some additional data associated with the task, and then pass the task object around through your asynchronous operation. Eventually, you will call a method such as `g_task_return_pointer()` or `g_task_return_error()`, which will save the value you give it and then invoke the task's callback function (waiting until the next iteration of the main loop first, if necessary). The caller will pass the GTask back to the operation's finish function (as a GAsyncResult), and you can use `g_task_propagate_pointer()` or the like to extract the return value.

Example 1. GTask as a GAsyncResult

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    typedef struct {
      CakeFrostingType frosting;
      char *message;
    } DecorationData;

    static void
    decoration_data_free (DecorationData *decoration)
    {
      g_free (decoration->message);
      g_slice_free (DecorationData, decoration);
    }

    static void
    baked_cb (Cake     *cake,
              gpointer  user_data)
    {
      GTask *task = user_data;
      DecorationData *decoration = g_task_get_task_data (task);
      GError *error = NULL;

      if (cake == NULL)
        {
          g_task_return_new_error (task, BAKER_ERROR, BAKER_ERROR_NO_FLOUR,
                                   "Go to the supermarket");
          g_object_unref (task);
          return;
        }

      if (!cake_decorate (cake, decoration->frosting, decoration->message, &error))
        {
          g_object_unref (cake);
          /* g_task_return_error() takes ownership of error */
          g_task_return_error (task, error);
          g_object_unref (task);
          return;
        }

      g_task_return_pointer (task, cake, g_object_unref);
      g_object_unref (task);
    }

    void
    baker_bake_cake_async (Baker               *self,
                           guint                radius,
                           CakeFlavor           flavor,
                           CakeFrostingType     frosting,
                           const char          *message,
                           GCancellable        *cancellable,
                           GAsyncReadyCallback  callback,
                           gpointer             user_data)
    {
      GTask *task;
      DecorationData *decoration;
      Cake  *cake;

      task = g_task_new (self, cancellable, callback, user_data);
      if (radius < 3)
        {
          g_task_return_new_error (task, BAKER_ERROR, BAKER_ERROR_TOO_SMALL,
                                   "%ucm radius cakes are silly",
                                   radius);
          g_object_unref (task);
          return;
        }

      cake = _baker_get_cached_cake (self, radius, flavor, frosting, message);
      if (cake != NULL)
        {
          /* _baker_get_cached_cake() returns a reffed cake */
          g_task_return_pointer (task, cake, g_object_unref);
          g_object_unref (task);
          return;
        }

      decoration = g_slice_new (DecorationData);
      decoration->frosting = frosting;
      decoration->message = g_strdup (message);
      g_task_set_task_data (task, decoration, (GDestroyNotify) decoration_data_free);

      _baker_begin_cake (self, radius, flavor, cancellable, baked_cb, task);
    }

    Cake *
    baker_bake_cake_finish (Baker         *self,
                            GAsyncResult  *result,
                            GError       **error)
    {
      g_return_val_if_fail (g_task_is_valid (result, self), NULL);

      return g_task_propagate_pointer (G_TASK (result), error);
    }

### Chained asynchronous operations

GTask also tries to simplify asynchronous operations that internally chain together several smaller asynchronous operations. `g_task_get_cancellable()`, `g_task_get_context()`, and `g_task_get_priority()` allow you to get back the task's GCancellable, GMainContext, and I/O priority when starting a new subtask, so you don't have to keep track of them yourself. `g_task_attach_source()` simplifies the case of waiting for a source to fire (automatically using the correct GMainContext and priority).

Example 2. Chained asynchronous operations

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    typedef struct {
      Cake *cake;
      CakeFrostingType frosting;
      char *message;
    } BakingData;

    static void
    decoration_data_free (BakingData *bd)
    {
      if (bd->cake)
        g_object_unref (bd->cake);
      g_free (bd->message);
      g_slice_free (BakingData, bd);
    }

    static void
    decorated_cb (Cake         *cake,
                  GAsyncResult *result,
                  gpointer      user_data)
    {
      GTask *task = user_data;
      GError *error = NULL;

      if (!cake_decorate_finish (cake, result, &error))
        {
          g_object_unref (cake);
          g_task_return_error (task, error);
          g_object_unref (task);
          return;
        }

      /* baking_data_free() will drop its ref on the cake, so
       * we have to take another here to give to the caller.
       */
      g_task_return_pointer (result, g_object_ref (cake), g_object_unref);
      g_object_unref (task);
    }

    static void
    decorator_ready (gpointer user_data)
    {
      GTask *task = user_data;
      BakingData *bd = g_task_get_task_data (task);

      cake_decorate_async (bd->cake, bd->frosting, bd->message,
                           g_task_get_cancellable (task),
                           decorated_cb, task);
    }

    static void
    baked_cb (Cake     *cake,
              gpointer  user_data)
    {
      GTask *task = user_data;
      BakingData *bd = g_task_get_task_data (task);
      GError *error = NULL;

      if (cake == NULL)
        {
          g_task_return_new_error (task, BAKER_ERROR, BAKER_ERROR_NO_FLOUR,
                                   "Go to the supermarket");
          g_object_unref (task);
          return;
        }

      bd->cake = cake;

      /* Bail out now if the user has already cancelled */
      if (g_task_return_error_if_cancelled (g_task_get_cancellable (task)))
        {
          g_object_unref (task);
          return;
        }

      if (cake_decorator_available (cake))
        decorator_ready (task);
      else
        {
          GSource *source;

          source = cake_decorator_wait_source_new (cake);
          /* Attach @source to @task's GMainContext and have it call
           * decorator_ready() when it is ready.
           */
          g_task_attach_source (task, source,
                                G_CALLBACK (decorator_ready));
          g_source_unref (source);
        }
    }

    void
    baker_bake_cake_async (Baker               *self,
                           guint                radius,
                           CakeFlavor           flavor,
                           CakeFrostingType     frosting,
                           const char          *message,
                           gint                 priority,
                           GCancellable        *cancellable,
                           GAsyncReadyCallback  callback,
                           gpointer             user_data)
    {
      GTask *task;
      BakingData *bd;

      task = g_task_new (self, cancellable, callback, user_data);
      g_task_set_priority (task, priority);

      bd = g_slice_new0 (BakingData);
      bd->frosting = frosting;
      bd->message = g_strdup (message);
      g_task_set_task_data (task, bd, (GDestroyNotify) baking_data_free);

      _baker_begin_cake (self, radius, flavor, cancellable, baked_cb, task);
    }

    Cake *
    baker_bake_cake_finish (Baker         *self,
                            GAsyncResult  *result,
                            GError       **error)
    {
      g_return_val_if_fail (g_task_is_valid (result, self), NULL);

      return g_task_propagate_pointer (G_TASK (result), error);
    }

### Asynchronous operations from synchronous ones

You can use `g_task_run_in_thread()` to turn a synchronous operation into an asynchronous one, by running it in a thread which will then dispatch the result back to the caller's GMainContext when it completes.

Example 3. `g_task_run_in_thread()`

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    typedef struct {
      guint radius;
      CakeFlavor flavor;
      CakeFrostingType frosting;
      char *message;
    } CakeData;

    static void
    cake_data_free (CakeData *cake_data)
    {
      g_free (cake_data->message);
      g_slice_free (CakeData, cake_data);
    }

    static void
    bake_cake_thread (GTask         *task,
                      gpointer       source_object,
                      gpointer       task_data,
                      GCancellable  *cancellable)
    {
      Baker *self = source_object;
      CakeData *cake_data = task_data;
      Cake *cake;
      GError *error = NULL;

      cake = bake_cake (baker, cake_data->radius, cake_data->flavor,
                        cake_data->frosting, cake_data->message,
                        cancellable, &error);
      if (cake)
        g_task_return_pointer (task, cake, g_object_unref);
      else
        g_task_return_error (task, error);
    }

    void
    baker_bake_cake_async (Baker               *self,
                           guint                radius,
                           CakeFlavor           flavor,
                           CakeFrostingType     frosting,
                           const char          *message,
                           GCancellable        *cancellable,
                           GAsyncReadyCallback  callback,
                           gpointer             user_data)
    {
      CakeData *cake_data;
      GTask *task;

      cake_data = g_slice_new (CakeData);
      cake_data->radius = radius;
      cake_data->flavor = flavor;
      cake_data->frosting = frosting;
      cake_data->message = g_strdup (message);
      task = g_task_new (self, cancellable, callback, user_data);
      g_task_set_task_data (task, cake_data, (GDestroyNotify) cake_data_free);
      g_task_run_in_thread (task, bake_cake_thread);
    }

    Cake *
    baker_bake_cake_finish (Baker         *self,
                            GAsyncResult  *result,
                            GError       **error)
    {
      g_return_val_if_fail (g_task_is_valid (result, self), NULL);

      return g_task_propagate_pointer (G_TASK (result), error);
    }

### Adding cancellability to uncancellable tasks

Finally, `g_task_run_in_thread()` and `g_task_run_in_thread_sync()` can be used to turn an uncancellable operation into a cancellable one. If you call `g_task_set_return_on_cancel()`, passing `TRUE`, then if the task's GCancellable is cancelled, it will return control back to the caller immediately, while allowing the task thread to continue running in the background (and simply discarding its result when it finally does finish). Provided that the task thread is careful about how it uses locks and other externally-visible resources, this allows you to make "GLib-friendly" asynchronous and cancellable synchronous variants of blocking APIs.

Example 4. `g_task_set_return_on_cancel()`

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    static void
    bake_cake_thread (GTask         *task,
                      gpointer       source_object,
                      gpointer       task_data,
                      GCancellable  *cancellable)
    {
      Baker *self = source_object;
      CakeData *cake_data = task_data;
      Cake *cake;
      GError *error = NULL;

      cake = bake_cake (baker, cake_data->radius, cake_data->flavor,
                        cake_data->frosting, cake_data->message,
                        &error);
      if (error)
        {
          g_task_return_error (task, error);
          return;
        }

      /* If the task has already been cancelled, then we don't
       * want to add the cake to the cake cache. Likewise, we don't
       * want to have the task get cancelled in the middle of
       * updating the cache. g_task_set_return_on_cancel() will
       * return %TRUE here if it managed to disable return-on-cancel,
       * or %FALSE if the task was cancelled before it could.
       */
      if (g_task_set_return_on_cancel (task, FALSE))
        {
          /* If the caller cancels at this point, their
           * GAsyncReadyCallback won't be invoked until we return,
           * so we don't have to worry that this code will run at
           * the same time as that code does. But if there were
           * other functions that might look at the cake cache,
           * then we'd probably need a GMutex here as well.
           */
          baker_add_cake_to_cache (baker, cake);
          g_task_return_pointer (task, cake, g_object_unref);
        }
    }

    void
    baker_bake_cake_async (Baker               *self,
                           guint                radius,
                           CakeFlavor           flavor,
                           CakeFrostingType     frosting,
                           const char          *message,
                           GCancellable        *cancellable,
                           GAsyncReadyCallback  callback,
                           gpointer             user_data)
    {
      CakeData *cake_data;
      GTask *task;

      cake_data = g_slice_new (CakeData);
      /* ... */

      task = g_task_new (self, cancellable, callback, user_data);
      g_task_set_task_data (task, cake_data, (GDestroyNotify) cake_data_free);
      g_task_set_return_on_cancel (task, TRUE);
      g_task_run_in_thread (task, bake_cake_thread);
    }

    Cake *
    baker_bake_cake_sync (Baker               *self,
                          guint                radius,
                          CakeFlavor           flavor,
                          CakeFrostingType     frosting,
                          const char          *message,
                          GCancellable        *cancellable,
                          GError             **error)
    {
      CakeData *cake_data;
      GTask *task;
      Cake *cake;

      cake_data = g_slice_new (CakeData);
      /* ... */

      task = g_task_new (self, cancellable, NULL, NULL);
      g_task_set_task_data (task, cake_data, (GDestroyNotify) cake_data_free);
      g_task_set_return_on_cancel (task, TRUE);
      g_task_run_in_thread_sync (task, bake_cake_thread);

      cake = g_task_propagate_pointer (task, error);
      g_object_unref (task);
      return cake;
    }

### Porting from `GSimpleAsyncResult`

GTask's API attempts to be simpler than GSimpleAsyncResult's in several ways:

- You can save task-specific data with `g_task_set_task_data()`, and retrieve it later with `g_task_get_task_data()`. This replaces the abuse of `g_simple_async_result_set_op_res_gpointer()` for the same purpose with GSimpleAsyncResult.

- In addition to the task data, GTask also keeps track of the priority, GCancellable, and GMainContext associated with the task, so tasks that consist of a chain of simpler asynchronous operations will have easy access to those values when starting each sub-task.

- `g_task_return_error_if_cancelled()` provides simplified handling for cancellation. In addition, cancellation overrides any other GTask return value by default, like GSimpleAsyncResult does when `g_simple_async_result_set_check_cancellable()` is called. (You can use `g_task_set_check_cancellable()` to turn off that behavior.) On the other hand, `g_task_run_in_thread()` guarantees that it will always run your `task_func`, even if the task's GCancellable is already cancelled before the task gets a chance to run; you can start your `task_func` with a `g_task_return_error_if_cancelled()` check if you need the old behavior.

- The "return" methods (eg, `g_task_return_pointer()`) automatically cause the task to be "completed" as well, and there is no need to worry about the "complete" vs "complete in idle" distinction. (GTask automatically figures out whether the task's callback can be invoked directly, or if it needs to be sent to another GMainContext, or delayed until the next iteration of the current GMainContext.)

- The "finish" functions for GTask-based operations are generally much simpler than GSimpleAsyncResult ones, normally consisting of only a single call to `g_task_propagate_pointer()` or the like. Since `g_task_propagate_pointer()` "steals" the return value from the GTask, it is not necessary to juggle pointers around to prevent it from being freed twice.

- With GSimpleAsyncResult, it was common to call `g_simple_async_result_propagate_error()` from the ``_finish()`` wrapper function, and have virtual method implementations only deal with successful returns. This behavior is deprecated, because it makes it difficult for a subclass to chain to a parent class's async methods. Instead, the wrapper function should just be a simple wrapper, and the virtual method should call an appropriate `g_task_propagate_` function. Note that wrapper methods can now use `g_async_result_legacy_propagate_error()` to do old-style GSimpleAsyncResult error-returning behavior, and `g_async_result_is_tagged()` to check if a result is tagged as having come from the ``_async()`` wrapper function (for "short-circuit" results, such as when passing 0 to `g_input_stream_read_async()`).

## Details

### GTask

    typedef struct _GTask GTask;

The opaque object representing a synchronous or asynchronous task and its result.

### g_task_new ()

    GTask *             g_task_new                          (gpointer source_object,
                                                             GCancellable *cancellable,
                                                             GAsyncReadyCallback callback,
                                                             gpointer callback_data);

Creates a GTask acting on `source_object`, which will eventually be used to invoke `callback` in the current thread-default main context.

Call this in the "start" method of your asynchronous method, and pass the GTask around throughout the asynchronous operation. You can use `g_task_set_task_data()` to attach task-specific data to the object, which you can retrieve later via `g_task_get_task_data()`.

By default, if `cancellable` is cancelled, then the return value of the task will always be `G_IO_ERROR_CANCELLED`, even if the task had already completed before the cancellation. This allows for simplified handling in cases where cancellation may imply that other objects that the task depends on have been destroyed. If you do not want this behavior, you can use `g_task_set_check_cancellable()` to change it.

`source_object` : | the GObject that owns this task, or `NULL`. [allow-none][type GObject]
`cancellable` : | optional GCancellable object, `NULL` to ignore. [allow-none]
`callback` : | a GAsyncReadyCallback. [scope async]
`callback_data` : | user data passed to `callback`. [closure]
Returns : | a GTask.

Since 2.36

### g_task_set_task_data ()

    void                g_task_set_task_data                (GTask *task,
                                                             gpointer task_data,
                                                             GDestroyNotify task_data_destroy);

Sets `task`'s task data (freeing the existing task data, if any).

`task` : | the GTask
`task_data` : | task-specific data. [allow-none]
`task_data_destroy` : | GDestroyNotify for `task_data`. [allow-none]

Since 2.36

### g_task_set_priority ()

    void                g_task_set_priority                 (GTask *task,
                                                             gint priority);

Sets `task`'s priority. If you do not call this, it will default to `G_PRIORITY_DEFAULT`.

This will affect the priority of GSources created with `g_task_attach_source()` and the scheduling of tasks run in threads, and can also be explicitly retrieved later via `g_task_get_priority()`.

`task` : | the GTask
`priority` : | the priority of the request.

Since 2.36

### g_task_set_check_cancellable ()

    void                g_task_set_check_cancellable        (GTask *task,
                                                             gboolean check_cancellable);

Sets or clears `task`'s check-cancellable flag. If this is `TRUE` (the default), then `g_task_propagate_pointer()`, etc, and `g_task_had_error()` will check the task's GCancellable first, and if it has been cancelled, then they will consider the task to have returned an "Operation was cancelled" error (`G_IO_ERROR_CANCELLED`), regardless of any other error or return value the task may have had.

If `check_cancellable` is `FALSE`, then the GTask will not check the cancellable itself, and it is up to `task`'s owner to do this (eg, via `g_task_return_error_if_cancelled()`).

If you are using `g_task_set_return_on_cancel()` as well, then you must leave check-cancellable set `TRUE`.

`task` : | the GTask
`check_cancellable` : | whether GTask will check the state of its GCancellable for you.

Since 2.36

### g_task_set_return_on_cancel ()

    gboolean            g_task_set_return_on_cancel         (GTask *task,
                                                             gboolean return_on_cancel);

Sets or clears `task`'s return-on-cancel flag. This is only meaningful for tasks run via `g_task_run_in_thread()` or `g_task_run_in_thread_sync()`.

If `return_on_cancel` is `TRUE`, then cancelling `task`'s GCancellable will immediately cause it to return, as though the task's GTaskThreadFunc had called `g_task_return_error_if_cancelled()` and then returned.

This allows you to create a cancellable wrapper around an uninterruptable function. The GTaskThreadFunc just needs to be careful that it does not modify any externally-visible state after it has been cancelled. To do that, the thread should call `g_task_set_return_on_cancel()` again to (atomically) set return-on-cancel `FALSE` before making externally-visible changes; if the task gets cancelled before the return-on-cancel flag could be changed, `g_task_set_return_on_cancel()` will indicate this by returning `FALSE`.

You can disable and re-enable this flag multiple times if you wish. If the task's GCancellable is cancelled while return-on-cancel is `FALSE`, then calling `g_task_set_return_on_cancel()` to set it `TRUE` again will cause the task to be cancelled at that point.

If the task's GCancellable is already cancelled before you call `g_task_run_in_thread()`/`g_task_run_in_thread_sync()`, then the GTaskThreadFunc will still be run (for consistency), but the task will also be completed right away.

`task` : | the GTask
`return_on_cancel` : | whether the task returns automatically when it is cancelled.
Returns : | `TRUE` if `task`'s return-on-cancel flag was changed to match `return_on_cancel`. `FALSE` if `task` has already been cancelled.

Since 2.36

### g_task_set_source_tag ()

    void                g_task_set_source_tag               (GTask *task,
                                                             gpointer source_tag);

Sets `task`'s source tag. You can use this to tag a task return value with a particular pointer (usually a pointer to the function doing the tagging) and then later check it using `g_task_get_source_tag()` (or `g_async_result_is_tagged()`) in the task's "finish" function, to figure out if the response came from a particular place.

`task` : | the GTask
`source_tag` : | an opaque pointer indicating the source of this task

Since 2.36

### g_task_report_error ()

    void                g_task_report_error                 (gpointer source_object,
                                                             GAsyncReadyCallback callback,
                                                             gpointer callback_data,
                                                             gpointer source_tag,
                                                             GError *error);

Creates a GTask and then immediately calls `g_task_return_error()` on it. Use this in the wrapper function of an asynchronous method when you want to avoid even calling the virtual method. You can then use `g_async_result_is_tagged()` in the finish method wrapper to check if the result there is tagged as having been created by the wrapper method, and deal with it appropriately if so.

See also `g_task_report_new_error()`.

`source_object` : | the GObject that owns this task, or `NULL`. [allow-none][type GObject]
`callback` : | a GAsyncReadyCallback. [scope async]
`callback_data` : | user data passed to `callback`. [closure]
`source_tag` : | an opaque pointer indicating the source of this task
`error` : | error to report. [transfer full]

Since 2.36

### g_task_report_new_error ()

    void                g_task_report_new_error             (gpointer source_object,
                                                             GAsyncReadyCallback callback,
                                                             gpointer callback_data,
                                                             gpointer source_tag,
                                                             GQuark domain,
                                                             gint code,
                                                             const char *format,
                                                             ...);

Creates a GTask and then immediately calls `g_task_return_new_error()` on it. Use this in the wrapper function of an asynchronous method when you want to avoid even calling the virtual method. You can then use `g_async_result_is_tagged()` in the finish method wrapper to check if the result there is tagged as having been created by the wrapper method, and deal with it appropriately if so.

See also `g_task_report_error()`.

`source_object` : | the GObject that owns this task, or `NULL`. [allow-none][type GObject]
`callback` : | a GAsyncReadyCallback. [scope async]
`callback_data` : | user data passed to `callback`. [closure]
`source_tag` : | an opaque pointer indicating the source of this task
`domain` : | a GQuark.
`code` : | an error code.
`format` : | a string with format characters.
`...` : | a list of values to insert into `format`.

Since 2.36

### g_task_get_task_data ()

    gpointer            g_task_get_task_data                (GTask *task);

Gets `task`'s `task_data`.

`task` : | a GTask
Returns : | `task`'s `task_data`. [transfer none]

Since 2.36

### g_task_get_priority ()

    gint                g_task_get_priority                 (GTask *task);

Gets `task`'s priority

`task` : | a GTask
Returns : | `task`'s priority

Since 2.36

### g_task_get_cancellable ()

    GCancellable *      g_task_get_cancellable              (GTask *task);

Gets `task`'s GCancellable

`task` : | a GTask
Returns : | `task`'s GCancellable. [transfer none]

Since 2.36

### g_task_get_check_cancellable ()

    gboolean            g_task_get_check_cancellable        (GTask *task);

Gets `task`'s check-cancellable flag. See `g_task_set_check_cancellable()` for more details.

`task` : | the GTask

Since 2.36

### g_task_get_return_on_cancel ()

    gboolean            g_task_get_return_on_cancel         (GTask *task);

Gets `task`'s return-on-cancel flag. See `g_task_set_return_on_cancel()` for more details.

`task` : | the GTask

Since 2.36

### g_task_get_context ()

    GMainContext *      g_task_get_context                  (GTask *task);

Gets the GMainContext that `task` will return its result in (that is, the context that was the thread-default main context at the point when `task` was created).

This will always return a non-`NULL` value, even if the task's context is the default GMainContext.

`task` : | a GTask
Returns : | `task`'s GMainContext. [transfer none]

Since 2.36

### g_task_get_source_object ()

    gpointer            g_task_get_source_object            (GTask *task);

Gets the source object from `task`. Like `g_async_result_get_source_object()`, but does not ref the object.

`task` : | a GTask
Returns : | `task`'s source object, or `NULL`. [transfer none][type GObject]

Since 2.36

### g_task_get_source_tag ()

    gpointer            g_task_get_source_tag               (GTask *task);

Gets `task`'s source tag. See `g_task_set_source_tag()`.

`task` : | a GTask
Returns : | `task`'s source tag. [transfer none]

Since 2.36

### g_task_return_boolean ()

    void                g_task_return_boolean               (GTask *task,
                                                             gboolean result);

Sets `task`'s result to `result` and completes the task (see `g_task_return_pointer()` for more discussion of exactly what this means).

`task` : | a GTask.
`result` : | the gboolean result of a task function.

Since 2.36

### g_task_return_int ()

    void                g_task_return_int                   (GTask *task,
                                                             gssize result);

Sets `task`'s result to `result` and completes the task (see `g_task_return_pointer()` for more discussion of exactly what this means).

`task` : | a GTask.
`result` : | the integer (gssize) result of a task function.

Since 2.36

### g_task_return_pointer ()

    void                g_task_return_pointer               (GTask *task,
                                                             gpointer result,
                                                             GDestroyNotify result_destroy);

Sets `task`'s result to `result` and completes the task. If `result` is not `NULL`, then `result_destroy` will be used to free `result` if the caller does not take ownership of it with `g_task_propagate_pointer()`.

"Completes the task" means that for an ordinary asynchronous task it will either invoke the task's callback, or else queue that callback to be invoked in the proper GMainContext, or in the next iteration of the current GMainContext. For a task run via `g_task_run_in_thread()` or `g_task_run_in_thread_sync()`, calling this method will save `result` to be returned to the caller later, but the task will not actually be completed until the GTaskThreadFunc exits.

Note that since the task may be completed before returning from `g_task_return_pointer()`, you cannot assume that `result` is still valid after calling this, unless you are still holding another reference on it.

`task` : | a GTask
`result` : | the pointer result of a task function. [allow-none][transfer full]
`result_destroy` : | a GDestroyNotify function. [allow-none]

Since 2.36

### g_task_return_error ()

    void                g_task_return_error                 (GTask *task,
                                                             GError *error);

Sets `task`'s result to `error` (which `task` assumes ownership of) and completes the task (see `g_task_return_pointer()` for more discussion of exactly what this means).

Note that since the task takes ownership of `error`, and since the task may be completed before returning from `g_task_return_error()`, you cannot assume that `error` is still valid after calling this. Call `g_error_copy()` on the error if you need to keep a local copy as well.

See also `g_task_return_new_error()`.

`task` : | a GTask.
`error` : | the GError result of a task function. [transfer full]

Since 2.36

### g_task_return_new_error ()

    void                g_task_return_new_error             (GTask *task,
                                                             GQuark domain,
                                                             gint code,
                                                             const char *format,
                                                             ...);

Sets `task`'s result to a new GError created from `domain`, `code`, `format`, and the remaining arguments, and completes the task (see `g_task_return_pointer()` for more discussion of exactly what this means).

See also `g_task_return_error()`.

`task` : | a GTask.
`domain` : | a GQuark.
`code` : | an error code.
`format` : | a string with format characters.
`...` : | a list of values to insert into `format`.

Since 2.36

### g_task_return_error_if_cancelled ()

    gboolean            g_task_return_error_if_cancelled    (GTask *task);

Checks if `task`'s GCancellable has been cancelled, and if so, sets `task`'s error accordingly and completes the task (see `g_task_return_pointer()` for more discussion of exactly what this means).

`task` : | a GTask
Returns : | `TRUE` if `task` has been cancelled, `FALSE` if not

Since 2.36

### g_task_propagate_boolean ()

    gboolean            g_task_propagate_boolean            (GTask *task,
                                                             GError **error);

Gets the result of `task` as a gboolean.

If the task resulted in an error, or was cancelled, then this will instead return `FALSE` and set `error`.

Since this method transfers ownership of the return value (or error) to the caller, you may only call it once.

`task` : | a GTask.
`error` : | return location for a GError
Returns : | the task result, or `FALSE` on error

Since 2.36

### g_task_propagate_int ()

    gssize              g_task_propagate_int                (GTask *task,
                                                             GError **error);

Gets the result of `task` as an integer (gssize).

If the task resulted in an error, or was cancelled, then this will instead return -1 and set `error`.

Since this method transfers ownership of the return value (or error) to the caller, you may only call it once.

`task` : | a GTask.
`error` : | return location for a GError
Returns : | the task result, or -1 on error

Since 2.36

### g_task_propagate_pointer ()

    gpointer            g_task_propagate_pointer            (GTask *task,
                                                             GError **error);

Gets the result of `task` as a pointer, and transfers ownership of that value to the caller.

If the task resulted in an error, or was cancelled, then this will instead return `NULL` and set `error`.

Since this method transfers ownership of the return value (or error) to the caller, you may only call it once.

`task` : | a GTask
`error` : | return location for a GError
Returns : | the task result, or `NULL` on error. [transfer full]

Since 2.36

### g_task_had_error ()

    gboolean            g_task_had_error                    (GTask *task);

Tests if `task` resulted in an error.

`task` : | a GTask.
Returns : | `TRUE` if the task resulted in an error, `FALSE` otherwise.

Since 2.36

### g_task_run_in_thread ()

    void                g_task_run_in_thread                (GTask *task,
                                                             GTaskThreadFunc task_func);

Runs `task_func` in another thread. When `task_func` returns, `task`'s GAsyncReadyCallback will be invoked in `task`'s GMainContext.

This takes a ref on `task` until the task completes.

See GTaskThreadFunc for more details about how `task_func` is handled.

`task` : | a GTask
`task_func` : | a GTaskThreadFunc

Since 2.36

### g_task_run_in_thread_sync ()

    void                g_task_run_in_thread_sync           (GTask *task,
                                                             GTaskThreadFunc task_func);

Runs `task_func` in another thread, and waits for it to return or be cancelled. You can use `g_task_propagate_pointer()`, etc, afterward to get the result of `task_func`.

See GTaskThreadFunc for more details about how `task_func` is handled.

Normally this is used with tasks created with a `NULL` `callback`, but note that even if the task does have a callback, it will not be invoked when `task_func` returns.

`task` : | a GTask
`task_func` : | a GTaskThreadFunc

Since 2.36

### GTaskThreadFunc ()

    void                (*GTaskThreadFunc)                  (GTask *task,
                                                             gpointer source_object,
                                                             gpointer task_data,
                                                             GCancellable *cancellable);

The prototype for a task function to be run in a thread via `g_task_run_in_thread()` or `g_task_run_in_thread_sync()`.

If the return-on-cancel flag is set on `task`, and `cancellable` gets cancelled, then the GTask will be completed immediately (as though `g_task_return_error_if_cancelled()` had been called), without waiting for the task function to complete. However, the task function will continue running in its thread in the background. The function therefore needs to be careful about how it uses externally-visible state in this case. See `g_task_set_return_on_cancel()` for more details.

Other than in that case, `task` will be completed when the GTaskThreadFunc returns, not when it calls a `g_task_return_` function.

`task` : | the GTask
`source_object` : | `task`'s source object. [type GObject]
`task_data` : | `task`'s task data
`cancellable` : | `task`'s GCancellable, or `NULL`

Since 2.36

### g_task_attach_source ()

    void                g_task_attach_source                (GTask *task,
                                                             GSource *source,
                                                             GSourceFunc callback);

A utility function for dealing with async operations where you need to wait for a GSource to trigger. Attaches `source` to `task`'s GMainContext with `task`'s priority, and sets `source`'s callback to `callback`, with `task` as the callback's `user_data`.

This takes a reference on `task` until `source` is destroyed.

`task` : | a GTask
`source` : | the source to attach
`callback` : | the callback to invoke when `source` triggers

Since 2.36

### g_task_is_valid ()

    gboolean            g_task_is_valid                     (gpointer result,
                                                             gpointer source_object);

Checks that `result` is a GTask, and that `source_object` is its source object (or that `source_object` is `NULL` and `result` has no source object). This can be used in `g_return_if_fail()` checks.

`result` : | A GAsyncResult. [type Gio.AsyncResult]
`source_object` : | the source object expected to be associated with the task. [allow-none][type GObject]
Returns : | `TRUE` if `result` and `source_object` are valid, `FALSE` if not

Since 2.36

## See Also

GAsyncResult