An operating unit for doors or windows, especially outward opening doors or windows comprising: - a handle body, from one side of which there protrudes a handgrip designed to operate drive components that protrude from the opposite side of the handle body; the handle body being applicable to a first door or window sash surface forming a wall of a tubular groove of the frame profile of the door or window and having at least a first slot through which the drive components can be inserted into the tubular groove; - opposite and separated rod segments (9a, 9b) designed to operate door or window latching devices and in use slidably engaged in a channel made in a second surface of the door or window sash, contiguous with and at an angle to the first surface, and having a second slot through which the rod segments (9a, 9b) can be connected to the drive components inside the tubular groove so as to enable the door or window to be a least opened and closed by moving the handgrip; - an independent connecting element said connecting element having a flat main part designed to be slidably positioned in the channel at the second slot and having at least one upper abutting surface for slidably positioning a portion of each of the rod segments (9a, 9b) for fastening said rod segments to the drive components; characterised in that the operating unit comprises locking means having a secondary part defining a plug that has, at the bottom of it, a pair of locking pins (18, 19) which, during use, engage respective holes (20, 21, 22, 23) made in the rod segments (9a, 9b) and in the main part positioned over each other in pairs in such a way as to join the rod segments (9a, 9b) to the main part; the secondary part being able to abut slidably against the channel tabs (11a, 11b) when said pins and holes are engaged. - a handle body, from one side of which there protrudes a handgrip designed to operate drive components that protrude from the opposite side of the handle body; the handle body being applicable to a first door or window sash surface forming a wall of a tubular groove of the frame profile of the door or window and having at least a first slot through which the drive components can be inserted into the tubular groove; - opposite and separated rod segments (9a, 9b) designed to operate door or window latching devices and in use slidably engaged in a channel made in a second surface of the door or window sash, contiguous with and at an angle to the first surface, and having a second slot through which the rod segments (9a, 9b) can be connected to the drive components inside the tubular groove so as to enable the door or window to be a least opened and closed by moving the handgrip; - an independent connecting element said connecting element having a flat main part designed to be slidably positioned in the channel at the second slot and having at least one upper abutting surface for slidably positioning a portion of each of the rod segments (9a, 9b) for fastening said rod segments to the drive components; characterised in that the operating unit comprises locking means having a secondary part defining a plug that has, at the bottom of it, a pair of locking pins (18, 19) which, during use, engage respective holes (20, 21, 22, 23) made in the rod segments (9a, 9b) and in the main part positioned over each other in pairs in such a way as to join the rod segments (9a, 9b) to the main part; the secondary part being able to abut slidably against the channel tabs (11a, 11b) when said pins and holes are engaged.