---
title: AuthorizationEngineRef
framework: security
role: symbol
role_heading: Type Alias
path: security/authorizationengineref
---

# AuthorizationEngineRef

Handle passed from the authorization engine to an instance of a mechanism in a plug-in.

## Declaration

```occ
typedef struct __OpaqueAuthorizationEngine * AuthorizationEngineRef;
```

## Discussion

Discussion The authorization engine passes one of these opaque handles to your plug-in when it calls your MechanismCreate function. Your mechanism must pass this handle back to the authorization engine when you call one of the engine’s callback functions, as defined in the AuthorizationCallbacks structure.