---
title: "AEGetSpecialHandler(_:_:_:)"
framework: coreservices
role: symbol
role_heading: Function
path: coreservices/1444274-aegetspecialhandler
---

# AEGetSpecialHandler(_:_:_:)

Gets a specified handler from a special handler dispatch table.

## Declaration

```swift
func AEGetSpecialHandler(_ functionClass: AEKeyword, _ handler: UnsafeMutablePointer<AEEventHandlerUPP?>!, _ isSysHandler: Bool) -> OSErr
```

## Parameters

- `functionClass`: The keyword for the special handler to get. You can specify any of the constants described in doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/coreservices/apple_events/1572726-special_handler_callback_constan. See doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/coreservices/aekeyword.
- `handler`: A universal procedure pointer. On return, a pointer to the specified special handler, if one exists that matches the value supplied in the functionClass parameter. See doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/coreservices/aeeventhandlerupp.
- `isSysHandler`: Specifies the special handler dispatch table to get the handler from. Pass TRUE to get the handler from the system special handler dispatch table or FALSE to get the handler from your application’s special handler dispatch table. Use of the system special handler dispatch table is not recommended.

## Return Value

Return Value A result code. See Result Codes.

## Discussion

Discussion See also AEInstallSpecialHandler(_:_:_:) and AERemoveSpecialHandler(_:_:_:).  Version-Notes Thread safe starting in OS X v10.2. In macOS, you should generally install all handlers in the application dispatch table. For Carbon applications running in Mac OS 8 or Mac OS 9, a special handler in the system dispatch table could reside in the system heap, where it would be available to other applications. However, this won’t work in macOS.

## See Also

### Managing Special Handler Dispatch Tables

- [AEInstallSpecialHandler(_:_:_:)](coreservices/1445532-aeinstallspecialhandler.md)
- [AERemoveSpecialHandler(_:_:_:)](coreservices/1447960-aeremovespecialhandler.md)