# Linux kernel 7.4 removes __get_user() and __put_user() primitives

> **Key takeaway:** A major cleanup in the Linux kernel removes long-deprecated user-space memory access primitives.

**Published:** 2026-10-22T16:25:50+00:00 
**Source:** Linux Weekly News (LWN.net) 
**Category:** kernel-os 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/linux-kernel-74-removes-getuser-and-putuser-primitives.html 

## Summary
Linus Torvalds has submitted a 48-part patch series for the Linux 7.4 kernel that removes the __get_user() and __put_user() functions. These primitives were previously used to access user-space memory from the kernel but have long been superseded by safer alternatives. This change represents a significant long-delayed cleanup of the kernel codebase.

## Cleaning up kernel memory access
- The removal is part of a **48-part patch series** submitted by Linus Torvalds.
- The functions **__get_user()** and **__put_user()** are being phased out in favor of modern, safer alternatives.
- This cleanup is targeted for the **Linux 7.4** release.
- The change addresses technical debt by removing primitives that were once best practice but are now obsolete.

## Why it matters
This move streamlines the kernel codebase by removing obsolete functions, though it requires ensuring all legacy code has transitioned to newer memory access methods.