GetCurrentThread

Function

The GetCurrentThread function retrieves a pseudo handle for the current thread.

A pseudo handle is a context-specific handle for the current object of the type. This handle is guaranteed to be valid only within the process or thread that created it. It is not a global handle that refers to the object throughout the system.

Pseudo handles are useful in situations where you need a handle to an object but do not have a handle readily available. For example, you can use the pseudo handle returned by GetCurrentThread to specify the current thread in a call to the SetThreadPriority function.

Syntax

HANDLE GetCurrentThread();

Parameters

This function does not take any parameters.

Return Value

Remarks

The pseudo handle returned by GetCurrentThread is a special value that refers to the current thread. It is not a handle that needs to be closed using CloseHandle. The system automatically handles the lifetime of this pseudo handle.

When you need to pass a handle to the current thread to a function that expects a thread handle, and you do not have an open handle to the thread, you can use the pseudo handle returned by GetCurrentThread.

For example, to change the priority of the current thread, you would use:

BOOL SetThreadPriority(
              HANDLE hThread,
              int nPriority
          );

        HANDLE hThread = GetCurrentThread();
        if (SetThreadPriority(hThread, THREAD_PRIORITY_HIGHEST)) {
            // Priority set successfully
        }

Requirements

Component	Value
Minimum supported client	Windows 2000 Professional
Minimum supported server	Windows 2000 Server
Target Platform	Windows
Header file	windows.h
Library	Kernel32.lib
DLL	Kernel32.dll