There are two macros, Py_INCREF(x) and Py_DECREF(x),
which handle the incrementing and decrementing of the reference count.
Py_DECREF() also frees the object when the count reaches zero.
For flexibility, it doesn't call free() directly -- rather, it
makes a call through a function pointer in the object's type
object. For this purpose (and others), every object also contains a
pointer to its type object.
The big question now remains: when to use Py_INCREF(x) and
Py_DECREF(x)? Let's first introduce some terms. Nobody
``owns'' an object; however, you can own a reference to an
object. An object's reference count is now defined as the number of
owned references to it. The owner of a reference is responsible for
calling Py_DECREF() when the reference is no longer needed.
Ownership of a reference can be transferred. There are three ways to
dispose of an owned reference: pass it on, store it, or call
Py_DECREF(). Forgetting to dispose of an owned reference creates
a memory leak.
It is also possible to borrow
a reference to an object. The borrower
of a reference should not call Py_DECREF(). The borrower must
not hold on to the object longer than the owner from which it was
borrowed. Using a borrowed reference after the owner has disposed of
it risks using freed memory and should be avoided
completely.
The advantage of borrowing over owning a reference is that you don't need to take care of disposing of the reference on all possible paths through the code -- in other words, with a borrowed reference you don't run the risk of leaking when a premature exit is taken. The disadvantage of borrowing over leaking is that there are some subtle situations where in seemingly correct code a borrowed reference can be used after the owner from which it was borrowed has in fact disposed of it.
A borrowed reference can be changed into an owned reference by calling
Py_INCREF(). This does not affect the status of the owner from
which the reference was borrowed -- it creates a new owned reference,
and gives full owner responsibilities (i.e., the new owner must
dispose of the reference properly, as well as the previous owner).