• attempt to release an open file descriptor
• if this is the last reference to object, release its resources
• if successful, return 0
• if unsuccessful, return -1 and set errno

An aside: removing an object e.g. via rm

• removes the object's entry from a directory
• but the inode and data persist until
  • all processes accessing the object close() their handle
  • all references to the inode from other directories are removed
• after this, the inode and the blocks on storage device are recycled