Retrieves a pseudo handle for the current process.

Syntax

HANDLE WINAPI GetCurrentProcess(void);

Parameters

Return Value

The return value is a pseudo handle to the current process.

Remarks

A pseudo handle is a special constant, currently (HANDLE)-1, that is interpreted as the current process handle. For compatibility with future operating systems, it is best to call GetCurrentProcess instead of hard-coding this constant value. The calling process can use a pseudo handle to specify its own process whenever a process handle is required. Pseudo handles are not inherited by child processes.

This handle has the PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS access right to the process object. For more information, see Process Security and Access Rights.

Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP/2000:  This handle has the maximum access allowed by the security descriptor of the process to the primary token of the process.

A process can create a "real" handle to itself that is valid in the context of other processes, or that can be inherited by other processes, by specifying the pseudo handle as the source handle in a call to the DuplicateHandle function. A process can also use the OpenProcess function to open a real handle to itself.

The pseudo handle need not be closed when it is no longer needed. Calling the CloseHandle function with a pseudo handle has no effect. If the pseudo handle is duplicated by DuplicateHandle, the duplicate handle must be closed.

Examples

For an example, see Creating a Child Process with Redirected Input and Output.

Requirements

See Also

CloseHandle

DuplicateHandle

GetCurrentProcessId

GetCurrentThread

OpenProcess

Process and Thread Functions

Processes

Send comments about this topic to Microsoft

Build date: 11/19/2009