Direct3D API

The Direct3D API provides a powerful, low‑level interface for high‑performance graphics rendering on Windows platforms. It enables developers to create 2D and 3D graphics, implement advanced visual effects, and harness the full capability of modern GPUs.

Use this documentation to explore concepts, learn how to integrate Direct3D into your applications, and reference the complete set of classes, enums, structures, and functions.

Getting Started

Follow the quick‑start guide to set up a basic Direct3D rendering pipeline.

#include <d3d11.h>
#pragma comment (lib, "d3d11.lib")

int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE, HINSTANCE, LPSTR, int) {
    // Initialize COM and create a DXGI factory...
    // Create device and swap chain...
    // Set up render target and view...
    // Enter render loop...
    return 0;
}

For a detailed walkthrough, see the Samples section.

Reference Highlights

Category	Key Types	Link
Device	ID3D11Device, ID3D11DeviceContext	Device Reference
Resources	ID3D11Buffer, ID3D11Texture2D, ID3D11ShaderResourceView	Resources Reference
Shaders	ID3D11VertexShader, ID3D11PixelShader	Shader Reference
Utilities	D3D11_CREATE_DEVICE_FLAG, D3D11_SWAP_CHAIN_DESC	Utilities

Latest News

Direct3D 12 features now supported on Windows 11 build 22621.
New ray‑tracing tutorials added to the Samples section.
Performance tip: use ID3D11DeviceContext::Flush() sparingly for best frame rates.