[[Property:title|eif_protect]]
[[Property:weight|2]]
[[Property:uuid|f335a229-93c4-4f3f-6fca-9c4c190745c4]]
==Synopsis==

<code lang="text">
#include "eif_hector.h"

EIF_OBJECT eif_protect (EIF_REFERENCE ref);
</code>

==Description==

The <code lang="text">eif_protect</code> function protects the Eiffel reference <code lang="text">ref</code> from the garbage collector. It keeps a reference on it so that the garbage collector does not collect it if it is not referenced from Eiffel any longer.

==Return value==

The <code lang="text">eif_protect</code> function returns an <code lang="text">EIF_OBJECT</code>. This <code lang="text">EIF_OBJECT</code> can be used later on to access <code lang="text">ref</code> with [[eif_access]]. 

==Conformance==

ISE Eiffel 4.4 and later. 

==Compatibility==

<code lang="text">eif_protect</code> is equivalent to <code lang="text">henter</code>, which is deprecated. 


{{SeeAlso| <br/>
[[eif_access]] <br/>
[[eif_adopt]] <br/>
[[eif_wean]] }}