A variable that identifies an object; an indirect reference to an operating system resource.
hatched brush
A logical brush created from one of twenty predefined bitmaps. See also bitmap,logical brush.
hidden window
A window that does not have the WS_VISIBLE style. A hidden window does not appear on the screen. As a result, it cannot receive user input or display output, although it can receive input from Windows and other applications.
high-performance file system (HPFS)
A file system that supports extended attributes and long, mixed-case filenames, and improves operating system performance by implementing several levels of caching. HPFS files are not supported on 32-bit versions of Microsoft Windows.
high-resolution performance counter
Hardware that provides high-resolution timing useful in improving the performance of applications.
hit testing
(1) The process of detecting user input by using the position of the mouse cursor hot spot. See also hot spot.
(2) A procedure for determining the current cursor position related to a given region. See also region.
hive
A discrete body of registry information, typically rooted at the top of the registry hierarchy. Each hive is usually supported by a single file of registry data.
HLS format
A color format that identifies a given color with a HLS (hue, luminosity, and saturation) triplet.
HMS time format
A time format used by Media Control Interface (MCI) to express time in hours, minutes, and seconds. The HMS time format is used primarily by videodisc devices.
A point in the Windows message-handling mechanism where an application can install a subroutine to monitor messages.
hook chain
A list of pointers to the hook procedures associated with a hook. When a message occurs that is monitored by the hook, Windows calls the first hook procedure in the chain.
hook procedure
An application-defined callback function whose address has been installed in a hook chain.
hot key
A key combination that generates a WM_HOTKEY message.
hot spot
The pixel in a cursor that marks the exact screen location affected by a mouse action, such as a button click. Mouse messages include the coordinates of the hot spot. See also cursor,pixel.