kern/task_ref.h Kernel.framework

Takes a reference on the task, preventing it from being freed (though not from terminating). A TASK_NULL argument is ignored. References are tracked by reference group (kernel, external/kext, MIG) for leak triage; the kernel-internal form maps to the kernel group, and kext references get per-kext groups. Release with task_deallocate.

Releases a reference on the task obtained with task_reference or from the MIG conversion layer; when the last reference is dropped the task structure is torn down and freed. A TASK_NULL argument is ignored.