A handle is a pointer to the memory address space which holds a handle-based object. A handle-based object is an object which you create with the CREATE statement (for example you create a dynamic buffer object with CREATE BUFFER). Mostly these handle-based objects are the dynamic pendants created at runtime to the static objects defined at compile time (CREATE BUFFER vs. DEFINE BUFFER).
The OO part of the ABL (classes and objects instantiated from them) is not covered with a handle - they are covered with object references DEFINE VARAIABLE ... AS CLASS.
Heavy Regards, RealHeavyDude.