Handles are unique, opaque, integer-like identifiers for every object stored on a PVFS2 file system. Every file, directory, and symbolic link has a handle. In addition, several underlying objects that cannot be directly manipulated by users are represented with handles. This provides a concise, non path dependent mechanism for specifying what object to operate on when clients and servers communicate. Servers automatically generate new handles when file system objects are created; the user does not typically manipulate them directly.
The allowable range of values that handles may assume is known as the handle space.