operatehandle

Operatehandle is a generic API concept describing a function or method that performs operations on a resource handle. A handle is an opaque identifier that represents a resource managed by an operating system, a library, or a runtime. The concept emphasizes centralized control of permissible actions on the resource.

An operatehandle interface typically accepts a handle and an operation code or descriptor, plus optional parameters specific to the operation. It returns a status or a result. This design allows a single entry point to dispatch diverse actions and to standardize error reporting.

Common operations include opening, closing, reading, writing, querying status, and configuring parameters. Implementations may expose a strongly typed handle wrapper and an enumeration of operation codes. In higher-level languages, the pattern often maps to methods or wrappers that manage lifetime.

Usage contexts include operating system resources, device drivers, graphics contexts, databases, and inter-process communication. The operatehandle pattern supports uniform error handling, easier binding across languages, and the potential for centralized resource tracking.

Key considerations include validating handle lifetimes to avoid leaks or use-after-free, ensuring thread safety, and enforcing access controls. Platform variations in operation sets and error codes require thorough documentation and consistent semantics.

See also: handles, resource management, file descriptors, opaque pointers.