Windows API
The Windows Application Programming Interface (API) is a set of functions, protocols, and tools for building software applications that run on the Windows operating system. It defines how software components should interact and provides the building blocks for developers to create robust and feature-rich applications.
General Concepts
Understanding fundamental API concepts is crucial for effective Windows development:
- Handles: Opaque identifiers for system objects like windows, files, or processes.
- Messages: The primary mechanism for inter-process and intra-process communication.
- Data Types: Specific data types defined by Windows, such as
DWORD,LPSTR, andHWND. - Error Handling: Methods for checking return values and retrieving detailed error information using
GetLastError().
Win32 API
The Win32 API is the foundational layer of the Windows API, providing extensive access to the operating system's features. It's primarily C-based and offers control over:
- Window Management: Creating, displaying, and managing windows.
- Graphics: Drawing primitives, GDI objects, and device contexts.
- User Input: Keyboard, mouse, and other input device handling.
- File System Operations: Reading, writing, and managing files and directories.
- Process and Thread Management: Creating and controlling processes and threads.
- Registry: Accessing and modifying the Windows Registry.
A common Win32 API function is CreateWindowEx:
DWORD dwExStyle,
LPCTSTR lpClassName,
LPCTSTR lpWindowName,
DWORD dwStyle,
int x,
int y,
int nWidth,
int nHeight,
HWND hWndParent,
HMENU hMenu,
HINSTANCE hInstance,
LPVOID lpParam
);
Universal Windows Platform (UWP) API
UWP provides a modern, sandboxed API for developing apps that run across all Windows 10/11 devices, from small screens to large displays. It emphasizes:
- XAML: For defining user interfaces.
- C++, C#, VB.NET: Supported programming languages.
- Modern UI/UX: Focus on touch-friendly and adaptive designs.
- App Lifecycle Management: Structured handling of app suspension and resumption.
Windows Runtime (WinRT) API
WinRT is a powerful, object-oriented API that bridges the gap between native code and managed code. It is the foundation for UWP and is also accessible from desktop Win32 applications. Key features include:
- Language Projection: Enables developers to use Windows features from various languages (C++, C#, JavaScript).
- Asynchronous Operations: Built-in support for non-blocking operations.
- Component Object Model (COM) based: A robust, extensible component model.