delete

Definition: delete(object o)
Description: Invoke any cleanup routines associated with the object and remove the association.
Comments: Cleanup routines are associated with an object using the delete_routine() function.

Applications do not typically invoke delete() directly, but instead rely on it being invoked as part of the automatic garbage collection process, except during shutdown when it may be important to force events to occur in a particular order.

If the object is an integer, or if no cleanup routines are associated with the object, then nothing happens.

After the cleanup routines are called, the value of the object is unchanged, though the cleanup routine(s) will no longer be associated with the object.
See Also: delete_routine