Windows® via C/C++, Fifth Edition

A Process’ Kernel Object Handle Table

When a process is initialized, the system allocates a handle table for it. This handle table is used only for kernel objects, not for User objects or GDI objects. The details of how the handle table is structured and managed are undocumented. Normally, I would refrain from discussing undocumented parts of the operating system. In this case, however, I’m making an exception because I believe that a competent Windows programmer must understand how a process’ handle table is managed. Because this information is undocumented, I will not get all the details completely correct, and the internal implementation is certainly different among various versions of Windows. So read the following discussion to improve your ...