Is the first argument to pthread_create function a thread handler

Question

The Linux man page defines the pthread_create function as

int pthread_create(pthread_t *thread, const pthread_attr_t *attr,
                          void *(*start_routine) (void *), void *arg);

What's this pointer to the pthread_t used for? Can we say it's a thread handler?

Answer 1

From the manpage of pthread_create :

See pthread_self(3) for further information on the thread ID returned in *thread by pthread_create() .

You can also call it a handle (not handler).

You can use that ID for pthread_join .