#include "mathlink.h"

/* read a symbol from a link and then release the memory to MathLink for deallocation */

void f(MLINK lp)
{
    unsigned char *sym;
    int len;

    if(! MLGetByteSymbol(lp, &sym, &len))
        { /* unable to read a symbol from lp */ }

    /* ... */

    MLReleaseByteSymbol(lp, sym, len);
}