defines the following possible values:
* ``-X faulthandler`` to enable :mod:`faulthandler`;
- * ``-X showrefcount`` to enable the output of the total reference count
- and memory blocks (only works on debug builds);
+ * ``-X showrefcount`` to output the total reference count and number of used
+ memory blocks when the program finishes or after each statement in the
+ interactive interpreter. This only works on debug builds.
* ``-X tracemalloc`` to start tracing Python memory allocations using the
:mod:`tracemalloc` module. By default, only the most recent frame is
stored in a traceback of a trace. Use ``-X tracemalloc=NFRAME`` to start
tracing with a traceback limit of *NFRAME* frames. See the
:func:`tracemalloc.start` for more information.
- * ``-X showalloccount`` to enable the output of the total count of allocated
- objects for each type (only works when built with ``COUNT_ALLOCS`` defined);
+ * ``-X showalloccount`` to output the total count of allocated objects for
+ each type when the program finishes. This only works when Python was built with
+ ``COUNT_ALLOCS`` defined.
It also allows passing arbitrary values and retrieving them through the
:data:`sys._xoptions` dictionary.
.. versionchanged:: 3.2
- It is now allowed to pass :option:`-X` with CPython.
+ The :option:`-X` option was added.
.. versionadded:: 3.3
The ``-X faulthandler`` option.