GetAncestor function (winuser.h)

Retrieves the handle to the ancestor of the specified window.

Syntax

HWND GetAncestor(
  [in] HWND hwnd,
  [in] UINT gaFlags
);

[in] hwnd

Type: HWND

A handle to the window whose ancestor is to be retrieved. If this parameter is the desktop window, the function returns NULL.

[in] gaFlags

Type: UINT

The ancestor to be retrieved. This parameter can be one of the following values.

Value	Meaning
GA_PARENT 1	Retrieves the parent window. This does not include the owner, as it does with the GetParent function.
GA_ROOT 2	Retrieves the root window by walking the chain of parent windows.
GA_ROOTOWNER 3	Retrieves the owned root window by walking the chain of parent and owner windows returned by GetParent.

Type: HWND

The return value is the handle to the ancestor window.

If the function fails, the return value is NULL. To get extended error information, call GetLastError.

Requirement	Value
Minimum supported client	Windows 2000 Professional [desktop apps only]
Minimum supported server	Windows 2000 Server [desktop apps only]
Target Platform	Windows
Header	winuser.h (include Windows.h)
Library	User32.lib
DLL	User32.dll
API set	ext-ms-win-ntuser-window-l1-1-1 (introduced in Windows 8.1)