hashmap: add usage documentation explaining hashmap_free[_entries]()

The existence of hashmap_free() and hashmap_free_entries() confused me,
and the docs weren't clear enough.  We are dealing with a map table,
entries in that table, and possibly also things each of those entries
point to.  I had to consult other source code examples and the
implementation.  Add a brief note to clarify the differences.  This will
become even more important once we introduce a new
hashmap_partial_clear() function which will add the question of whether
the table itself has been freed.

Signed-off-by: Elijah Newren <newren@gmail.com>
Signed-off-by: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>

1 files changed, 29 insertions, 2 deletions

diff --git a/hashmap.h b/hashmap.h
index b011b394fe..2994dc7a9c 100644
--- a/hashmap.h
+++ b/hashmap.h
@@ -236,13 +236,40 @@ void hashmap_init(struct hashmap *map,
 void hashmap_free_(struct hashmap *map, ssize_t offset);
 
 /*
- * Frees a hashmap structure and allocated memory, leaves entries undisturbed
+ * Frees a hashmap structure and allocated memory for the table, but does not
+ * free the entries nor anything they point to.
+ *
+ * Usage note:
+ *
+ * Many callers will need to iterate over all entries and free the data each
+ * entry points to; in such a case, they can free the entry itself while at it.
+ * Thus, you might see:
+ *
+ *    hashmap_for_each_entry(map, hashmap_iter, e, hashmap_entry_name) {
+ *      free(e->somefield);
+ *      free(e);
+ *    }
+ *    hashmap_free(map);
+ *
+ * instead of
+ *
+ *    hashmap_for_each_entry(map, hashmap_iter, e, hashmap_entry_name) {
+ *      free(e->somefield);
+ *    }
+ *    hashmap_free_entries(map, struct my_entry_struct, hashmap_entry_name);
+ *
+ * to avoid the implicit extra loop over the entries.  However, if there are
+ * no special fields in your entry that need to be freed beyond the entry
+ * itself, it is probably simpler to avoid the explicit loop and just call
+ * hashmap_free_entries().
  */
 #define hashmap_free(map) hashmap_free_(map, -1)
 
 /*
  * Frees @map and all entries.  @type is the struct type of the entry
- * where @member is the hashmap_entry struct used to associate with @map
+ * where @member is the hashmap_entry struct used to associate with @map.
+ *
+ * See usage note above hashmap_free().
  */
 #define hashmap_free_entries(map, type, member) \
 	hashmap_free_(map, offsetof(type, member));