SSL_CTX_FREE(3) | Library Functions Manual | SSL_CTX_FREE(3)

# NAME

`SSL_CTX_free` — free an allocated SSL_CTX object

# SYNOPSIS

library “libssl” libcrypto
`#include <openssl/ssl.h>`

void
`SSL_CTX_free`(SSL_CTX *ctx);

# DESCRIPTION

`SSL_CTX_free`() decrements the reference count of ctx, and removes the SSL_CTX object pointed to by ctx and frees up the allocated memory if the reference count has reached 0. If ctx is a `NULL` pointer, no action occurs.

It also calls the free(3)ing procedures for indirectly affected items, if applicable: the session cache, the list of ciphers, the list of Client CAs, the certificates and keys.

# WARNINGS

If a session-remove callback is set (SSL_CTX_sess_set_remove_cb(3)), this callback will be called for each session being freed from ctx's session cache. This implies that all corresponding sessions from an external session cache are removed as well. If this is not desired, the user should explicitly unset the callback by calling `SSL_CTX_sess_set_remove_cb`(ctx, NULL) prior to calling `SSL_CTX_free`().

# SEE ALSO

ssl(3), SSL_CTX_new(3), SSL_CTX_sess_set_get_cb(3)

# HISTORY

`SSL_CTX_free`() first appeared in SSLeay 0.5.1 and has been available since OpenBSD 2.4.

June 8, 2025 | Debian