DeskriptorenHandles

DeskriptorenHandles is a term used in German-language technical writing to describe opaque references that represent access to system resources through a descriptor. In this context a descriptor can refer to items such as files, sockets, pipes, or devices. The DeskriptorenHandle serves as an abstraction layer that decouples application code from the concrete representation of the resource, enabling resource management without exposing low-level details.

Typically a DeskriptorenHandle is created when a resource is opened or allocated, and it is passed through APIs that operate on the resource. The handle often contains metadata about ownership, access rights, and the resource’s lifetime. It is considered valid as long as the underlying resource exists; once the resource is closed or released, the handle becomes invalid and should not be reused. Operations commonly associated with DeskriptorenHandles include duplication, translation to a platform-specific native handle, and explicit release or closing of the resource.

Implementation approaches vary by platform and language. In POSIX-like systems, a descriptor is commonly an integer, while Windows uses a pointer-sized handle (HANDLE). In higher-level languages, DeskriptorenHandles are frequently wrapped by safe handle or resource-management abstractions that enforce proper acquisition and release, often using patterns such as RAII or deterministic finalization. Key concerns when using these handles are ensuring correct ownership semantics, avoiding resource leaks, and providing thread-safe access.

See also: resource handles, file descriptors, native handles, safe handle wrappers.