###### (This is the documentation for SDL3, which is under heavy development and the API is changing! [SDL2](https://wiki.libsdl.org/SDL2/) is the current stable version!)
# SDL_AtomicIncRef

Increment an atomic variable used as a reference count.

## Header File

Defined in [SDL_atomic.h](https://github.com/libsdl-org/SDL/blob/main/include/SDL3/SDL_atomic.h), but apps should use `#include <SDL3/SDL.h>`

## Syntax

```c
#define SDL_AtomicIncRef(a)    SDL_AtomicAdd(a, 1)
```

## Macro Parameters

|           |                                                              |
| --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **a**     | a pointer to an [SDL_AtomicInt](SDL_AtomicInt) to increment. |

## Return Value

Returns the previous value of the atomic variable.

## Remarks

***Note: If you don't know what this macro is for, you shouldn't use it!***

## Version

This macro is available since SDL 3.0.0.

## See Also

* [SDL_AtomicDecRef](SDL_AtomicDecRef)

----
[CategoryAPI](CategoryAPI), [CategoryAPIMacro](CategoryAPIMacro)