c - What does __init mean in the Linux kernel code?

Question

In the Linux kernel source code I found this function:

static int __init clk_disable_unused(void) 
{
   // some code
}

Here I can not understand what does __init means.

Answer 1

include/linux/init.h

/* These macros are used to mark some functions or 
 * initialized data (doesn't apply to uninitialized data)
 * as `initialization' functions. The kernel can take this
 * as hint that the function is used only during the initialization
 * phase and free up used memory resources after
 *
 * Usage:
 * For functions:
 * 
 * You should add __init immediately before the function name, like:
 *
 * static void __init initme(int x, int y)
 * {
 *    extern int z; z = x * y;
 * }
 *
 * If the function has a prototype somewhere, you can also add
 * __init between closing brace of the prototype and semicolon:
 *
 * extern int initialize_foobar_device(int, int, int) __init;
 *
 * For initialized data:
 * You should insert __initdata between the variable name and equal
 * sign followed by value, e.g.:
 *
 * static int init_variable __initdata = 0;
 * static const char linux_logo[] __initconst = { 0x32, 0x36, ... };
 *
 * Don't forget to initialize data not at file scope, i.e. within a function,
 * as gcc otherwise puts the data into the bss section and not into the init
 * section.
 * 
 * Also note, that this data cannot be "const".
 */

/* These are for everybody (although not all archs will actually
   discard it in modules) */
#define __init      __section(.init.text) __cold notrace
#define __initdata  __section(.init.data)
#define __initconst __section(.init.rodata)
#define __exitdata  __section(.exit.data)
#define __exit_call __used __section(.exitcall.exit)