DirectInput

DirectInput is a component of DirectX that provides an interface for applications to access input devices such as keyboards, mice, joysticks, and gamepads. It offers a consistent and efficient way to handle input across a wide range of hardware.

Key Concepts

• Devices: Represents physical input hardware like a keyboard or joystick.
• Objects: Specific controls on a device, such as a key on a keyboard, a button on a mouse, or an axis on a joystick.
• Effects: Force feedback capabilities for devices that support them (e.g., vibration, spring effects).
• Acquire/Unacquire: The process of gaining or releasing control over an input device.
• Polling: Periodically querying the state of input devices.

Core Interfaces

DirectInput provides several core interfaces for managing input:

• IDirectInput8: The main interface for initializing DirectInput and enumerating devices.
• IDirectInputDevice8: Represents an individual input device and provides methods for accessing its properties, capabilities, and data.
• IDirectInputEffect: Used for controlling and managing force feedback effects.

IDirectInput8 Methods

IDirectInputDevice8 Methods

Common Usage Patterns

1. Initialization: Call DirectInput8Create to get an IDirectInput8 interface.
2. Device Enumeration: Use EnumDevices to find available devices and create specific device instances using CreateDevice.
3. Setting Cooperative Level: Call SetCooperativeLevel on the device interface to manage input focus.
4. Acquiring the Device: Call Acquire before reading input.
5. Reading Input: Periodically call GetDeviceState to read the current state of the device.
6. Releasing the Device: Call Unacquire when input is no longer needed or the application is exiting.

Related Topics

• Raw Input API
• Game Input API
• Mouse Input
• Keyboard Input