BeginPaint function (winuser.h)

The BeginPaint function prepares the specified window for painting and fills a PAINTSTRUCT structure with information about the painting.

Syntax

HDC BeginPaint(
  [in]  HWND          hWnd,
  [out] LPPAINTSTRUCT lpPaint
);

Parameters

[in] hWnd

Handle to the window to be repainted.

[out] lpPaint

Pointer to the PAINTSTRUCT structure that will receive painting information.

Return value

If the function succeeds, the return value is the handle to a display device context for the specified window.

If the function fails, the return value is NULL, indicating that no display device context is available.

Remarks

The BeginPaint function automatically sets the clipping region of the device context to exclude any area outside the update region. The update region is set by the InvalidateRect or InvalidateRgn function and by the system after sizing, moving, creating, scrolling, or any other operation that affects the client area. If the update region is marked for erasing, BeginPaint sends a WM_ERASEBKGND message to the window.

An application should not call BeginPaint except in response to a WM_PAINT message. Each call to BeginPaint must have a corresponding call to the EndPaint function.

If the caret is in the area to be painted, BeginPaint automatically hides the caret to prevent it from being erased.

If the window's class has a background brush, BeginPaint uses that brush to erase the background of the update region before returning.

DPI Virtualization

Examples

For an example, see Drawing in the Client Area.

Requirements

See also

EndPaint

InvalidateRect

InvalidateRgn

PAINTSTRUCT

Painting and Drawing Functions

Painting and Drawing Overview

ValidateRect

ValidateRgn