Windows Kernel APIs

The Windows kernel provides the core functionalities of the operating system. This section details the APIs that allow interaction with and management of kernel-level components, processes, threads, memory, and devices.

Core Kernel Objects & Functions

Process Management

APIs for creating, managing, and terminating processes.

CreateProcess(), OpenProcess(), TerminateProcess(), GetProcessId(), EnumProcesses()

These functions allow developers to interact with the process lifecycle, query process information, and manage their execution state.

Thread Management

APIs for creating, managing, and synchronizing threads within a process.

CreateThread(), OpenThread(), TerminateThread(), GetCurrentThreadId(), Sleep()

Essential for concurrent programming, these APIs enable the creation and control of multiple execution paths within a single process.

Memory Management

APIs for allocating, deallocating, and managing virtual memory.

VirtualAlloc(), VirtualFree(), VirtualQuery(), HeapAlloc(), GlobalAlloc()

Provides granular control over the memory used by applications and the system, including virtual address space manipulation and heap management.

Synchronization Objects

APIs for ensuring thread safety and coordinating access to shared resources.

CreateMutex(), CreateSemaphore(), CreateEvent(), WaitForSingleObject(), ReleaseMutex()

Crucial for multithreaded applications, these objects prevent race conditions and manage concurrent access to critical sections of code or data.

Inter-Process Communication (IPC)

Mechanisms for processes to communicate and share data.

Pipes (CreatePipe())
Shared Memory (CreateFileMapping(), MapViewOfFile())
Message Queues (CreateMsgQueue())
Sockets (Winsock API)

Enables different processes to exchange information, facilitating distributed applications and complex system designs.

Device Drivers & I/O

APIs for interacting with hardware devices and managing input/output operations.

CreateFile(), ReadFile(), WriteFile(), DeviceIoControl()

The gateway for user-mode applications to communicate with kernel-mode device drivers, allowing them to interact with hardware.

Key Concepts

Understanding the Windows kernel is fundamental for advanced Windows development. Key concepts include:

Kernel Mode vs. User Mode: The separation of privileges and responsibilities between the operating system core and applications.
System Calls: The interface through which user-mode applications request services from the kernel.
Objects: The fundamental building blocks of the kernel (processes, threads, files, etc.), managed through handles.
Interrupts and Exceptions: Mechanisms for handling hardware events and runtime errors.