Adjustable and retractable rod apparatus, preferably in the form of a folding pole having at least three pipe sections (10, 21, 22) and with a pole handle at an uppermost external pipe fitting and a tip at the opposite end of a lowermost pipe section, comprising: an external pipe fitting that is hollow, extends along an axis and comprises an inner hole set along the axis; a multi-section rod unit that comprises a first rod and at least one foldable rod, wherein the first and second rods have the same outer diameter, can be connected with each other along the axis in an unfolded state and can be separated from each other to be in a folded or foldable state and in parallel relative to the external pipe fitting, and when the first and second rods are in an unfolded state, the first rod can be extended into the inner hole of the external pipe fitting; wherein the adjustable and retractable rod apparatus comprises a positioning unit, and a linkage rope, which a linkage rope runs through the external pipe fitting and the multi-section rod unit, wherein the linkage rope comprises a first end that is fixed on the external pipe fitting and a second end that is opposite to the first end, wherein the second end of the linkage rope is connected to the second rod that is the farthest away from the external pipe fitting, and wherein the linkage rope can slip through the positioning component, characterized in that the positioning unit comprises a positioning component that is set in and attached to the first rod and a locking component, directly and/or indirectly coupled to the linkage rope and located within the first rod, wherein in the unfolded state the positioning component and the locking component are in a positive form-fit engagement such that the linkage rope is under tension in the multi-section rod unit, and wherein to bring the apparatus into a folded state, the external pipe fitting is pulled axially apart from the multi-section rod unit thereby at least partly dragging said locking component and releasing said positive form-fit engagement. an external pipe fitting that is hollow, extends along an axis and comprises an inner hole set along the axis; a multi-section rod unit that comprises a first rod and at least one foldable rod, wherein the first and second rods have the same outer diameter, can be connected with each other along the axis in an unfolded state and can be separated from each other to be in a folded or foldable state and in parallel relative to the external pipe fitting, and when the first and second rods are in an unfolded state, the first rod can be extended into the inner hole of the external pipe fitting; wherein the adjustable and retractable rod apparatus comprises a positioning unit, and a linkage rope, which a linkage rope runs through the external pipe fitting and the multi-section rod unit, wherein the linkage rope comprises a first end that is fixed on the external pipe fitting and a second end that is opposite to the first end, wherein the second end of the linkage rope is connected to the second rod that is the farthest away from the external pipe fitting, and wherein the linkage rope can slip through the positioning component, which a linkage rope runs through the external pipe fitting and the multi-section rod unit, wherein the linkage rope comprises a first end that is fixed on the external pipe fitting and a second end that is opposite to the first end, wherein the second end of the linkage rope is connected to the second rod that is the farthest away from the external pipe fitting, and wherein the linkage rope can slip through the positioning component, characterized in that the positioning unit comprises a positioning component that is set in and attached to the first rod and a locking component, directly and/or indirectly coupled to the linkage rope and located within the first rod, wherein in the unfolded state the positioning component and the locking component are in a positive form-fit engagement such that the linkage rope is under tension in the multi-section rod unit, and wherein to bring the apparatus into a folded state, the external pipe fitting is pulled axially apart from the multi-section rod unit thereby at least partly dragging said locking component and releasing said positive form-fit engagement. a positioning component that is set in and attached to the first rod and a locking component, directly and/or indirectly coupled to the linkage rope and located within the first rod, wherein in the unfolded state the positioning component and the locking component are in a positive form-fit engagement such that the linkage rope is under tension in the multi-section rod unit, and wherein to bring the apparatus into a folded state, the external pipe fitting is pulled axially apart from the multi-section rod unit thereby at least partly dragging said locking component and releasing said positive form-fit engagement.