UWP Communication APIs

Explore the powerful APIs available for enabling seamless communication within your Universal Windows Platform (UWP) applications. From local inter-process communication to network-based messaging, UWP provides robust solutions to connect your app components and interact with other devices and services.

Key Communication Scenarios

Inter-App Communication: Share data and functionality between different UWP apps.
Network Communication: Build client-server applications, real-time messaging, and data synchronization.
Device-to-Device Communication: Connect with nearby devices using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct.
Background Communication: Enable communication even when your app is not in the foreground.

Featured Communication APIs

`Windows.Networking.Sockets` Namespace

Provides classes for network communication, including TCP, UDP, and WebSockets. Ideal for building connected experiences.

StreamSocket: For establishing reliable TCP connections.
DatagramSocket: For sending and receiving UDP datagrams.
MessageWebSocket: For real-time, bidirectional communication over WebSockets.

Learn more about StreamSocket

// Example: Basic TCP client connection
using Windows.Networking.Sockets;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

var socket = new StreamSocket();
await socket.ConnectAsync(new Windows.Networking.HostName("example.com"), "80");
// ... send and receive data ...

`Windows.ApplicationModel.Background.BackgroundTask`

Allows your application to perform tasks in the background, including responding to network events or incoming messages.

Learn more about Background Tasks

// Example: Registering a background task for network notifications
var builder = new BackgroundTaskBuilder();
builder.TaskEntryPoint = "MyBackgroundTasks.NetworkTask";
builder.SetTrigger(new MaintenanceTrigger(MaintenanceInterval.Day, MaintenanceTriggerKind.BackgroundUpload));
var registration = builder.Register();

`Windows.Networking.Proximity` Namespace

Enables proximity-based interactions, such as discovering and communicating with nearby devices using technologies like Bluetooth and NFC.

PeerFinder: For discovering and connecting with other devices.
ConnectionRequestedEventArgs: Information about a connection request.

Learn more about PeerFinder

`Windows.ApplicationModel.Core.AppServiceConnection`

Facilitates communication between UWP apps through app services, allowing one app to provide functionality to another.

Learn more about App Services

// Example: Sending a message to an app service
var connection = new AppServiceConnection();
connection.PackageFamilyName = "AnotherAppPackageFamilyName";
connection.AppServiceName = "MyDataService";

var (status, response) = await connection.SendMessageAsync(new ValueSet { { "command", "getData" } });
if (status == AppServiceResponseStatus.Success) {
    // Process response.Result
}