bInheritHandles

bInheritHandles is a boolean parameter used in Windows API functions, most notably CreateProcess, that determines whether the child process inherits handles from the parent process. Handles are unique identifiers used by the operating system to refer to resources such as files, pipes, and network sockets.

When bInheritHandles is set to TRUE, the child process receives copies of the parent process's open handles. This can be useful for inter-process communication, where the parent process might create a pipe and then pass one end of the pipe to the child process. The child process can then use its inherited handle to write to or read from the pipe, enabling communication with the parent.

Conversely, if bInheritHandles is set to FALSE, the child process does not inherit any handles from the parent. Each process will have its own independent set of handles. This is the default behavior and is generally preferred for security and resource management reasons, as it prevents unintended sharing of resources between processes.

Care must be taken when inheriting handles. If a handle is inherited, it should be managed carefully by both the parent and child processes to avoid issues such as resource leaks or deadlocks. In many scenarios, it is more appropriate to explicitly create specific handles for the child process and pass them as arguments rather than relying on inheritance for all handles.