GetAncestor function (winuser.h)

Retrieves the handle to the ancestor of the specified window.

Syntax

HWND GetAncestor(
  [in] HWND hwnd,
  [in] UINT gaFlags
);

Parameters

[in] hwnd

Type: HWND

A handle to the window whose ancestor is to be retrieved. If this parameter is the desktop window, the function returns NULL.

[in] gaFlags

Type: UINT

The ancestor to be retrieved. This parameter can be one of the following values.

Value Meaning
GA_PARENT
1
Retrieves the parent window. This does not include the owner, as it does with the GetParent function.
GA_ROOT
2
Retrieves the root window by walking the chain of parent windows.
GA_ROOTOWNER
3
Retrieves the owned root window by walking the chain of parent and owner windows returned by GetParent.

Return value

Type: HWND

The return value is the handle to the ancestor window.

Requirements

Requirement Value
Minimum supported client Windows 2000 Professional [desktop apps only]
Minimum supported server Windows 2000 Server [desktop apps only]
Target Platform Windows
Header winuser.h (include Windows.h)
Library User32.lib
DLL User32.dll
API set ext-ms-win-ntuser-window-l1-1-1 (introduced in Windows 8.1)

See also

Conceptual

GetParent

Reference

Windows