The right type for handles in C interfaces

Question

I\'m creating a C api that hides some functionality in a DLL file.

Since everything is C++ on the inside most of the functions works against handles which maps direc

Answer 1

If you look at how Microsoft defines it's winapi handles (winnt.h) it actually looks like this:

struct HWND__ { int unused; }; typedef struct HWND__ *HWND

in fact they have a macro for this:

#define DECLARE_HANDLE(name) struct name##__{int unused;}; typedef struct name##__ *name

so.. this seems to be a common practice to do so. Unfortunately I can't make another suggestion except this one, which you already mentioned, but I hope it helps you anyway.