Is it ok to use this as a global variable?

[turtlesavage]

 HANDLE console = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE);

[Shadowwolf]

It's hard to tell without the context of the application you use it in. It should be valid code, I can't tell whether it's the cleanest solution though, for that we'll need a context.

[JLBorges]

> Is it ok to use this as a global variable?
> HANDLE console = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE);

Yes.

If it is used in only one translation unit, give it internal linkage.
namespace { HANDLE console = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE); }


Otherwise, place it at namespace scope in a header:

namespace utility
{
    // one per translation unit
    namespace { HANDLE console = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE); }
    
    // or declare it extern, and initialise in the .cpp file
    // extern HANDLE console ;
}; 

[turtlesavage]

Excellent, thank you.