Win32 API

E37357

Win32 API is Microsoft's core programming interface for developing native desktop applications that interact directly with the Windows operating system.

All labels observed (12)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (61)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Windows API family
application programming interface
software development platform
abstractionLevel low-level
accessModel unmanaged code
alsoKnownAs Win32
linked to: Win32 API

Windows API
linked to: Win32 API
callConvention stdcall
callingStyle procedural API
component Advapi32
linked to: Win32 API

Comdlg32
Gdi32
Kernel32
Ole32
Shell32
User32
linked to: Win32 API

Ws2_32
designGoal backward compatibility across Windows versions
developer Microsoft
distribution Windows SDK
documentation Microsoft Learn
linked to: Microsoft Docs
headerFile windows.h
introducedWith Windows 95
Windows NT
license proprietary
operatingSystem Microsoft Windows
linked to: Windows
partOf Microsoft Windows operating system
linked to: Windows
predecessor Win16 API
primaryLanguageBinding C
programmingLanguage C
provides file system access functions
graphics device interface (GDI) functions
interprocess communication mechanisms
low-level access to Windows operating system
memory management functions
message loop and event handling
networking functions
process and thread management functions
registry access functions
security and access control functions
user input handling
window management functions
relatedTo .NET Framework
Universal Windows Platform
Windows Runtime (WinRT)
linked to: WinRT
stableInterface yes
supports ANSI character functions
Unicode character functions
supportsArchitecture 32-bit
64-bit
supportsLanguageBinding C# (via P/Invoke)
C++
Delphi
Visual Basic
other .NET languages (via P/Invoke)
targetPlatform Win32 subsystem
linked to: Win32 API

Windows desktop
linked to: Windows Shell
usedFor developing device and system management tools
developing games
developing native Windows desktop applications
developing system utilities

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (40)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Windows supportsAPI Win32 API
WinUI supportsAppModel Win32 desktop
linked to: Win32 API
ActiveX platform Win32
linked to: Win32 API
Windows 98 supportsApi Win32
linked to: Win32 API
Windows 95 supports Win32 API
Win32 API alsoKnownAs Windows API
linked to: Win32 API
Win32 API alsoKnownAs Win32
linked to: Win32 API
Win32 API targetPlatform Win32 subsystem
linked to: Win32 API
Win32 API component User32
linked to: Win32 API
Win32 API component Advapi32
linked to: Win32 API
Windows NT supports Win32 API
MinGW target Win32 API
Windows 32-bit supports Win32 API
Visual Component Library basedOn Windows API
linked to: Win32 API
COM platform Win32
linked to: Win32 API
SlimBrowser (legacy versions) platform Win32
linked to: Win32 API
Microsoft APIs includes Windows API
linked to: Win32 API
Microsoft APIs includes Win32 API
MSMQ accessedVia Win32 API
Windows services usesAPI Windows Service API
linked to: Win32 API
Explorer.exe interactsWith Win32 API
Windows Search platform Win32
linked to: Win32 API
Windows Registry accessedBy Win32 API
Win16 API successor Win32 API
Gdi32 partOf Win32 API
Kernel32 partOf Win32 API
Comdlg32 partOf Win32 API
Comdlg32 supportsProgrammingModel Win32
linked to: Win32 API
Ws2_32 languageBinding C API
linked to: Win32 API
Windows SDK targetPlatform Win32 API
Windows SDK targetPlatform Windows API
linked to: Win32 API
DirectPlay platform Win32
linked to: Win32 API
Video for Windows usesLibrary Microsoft Windows APIs
linked to: Win32 API
DirectShow platform Win32
subject linked to: DS
linked to: Win32 API
GTK supportsPlatform Microsoft Windows API
linked to: Win32 API
GTK supportsPlatform Microsoft Windows API
subject linked to: GTK (for graphical interface)
linked to: Win32 API
Microsoft Foundation Classes platform Win32
linked to: Win32 API
ObjectStudio supportsIntegrationWith Windows APIs
linked to: Win32 API
TForm interactsWith Windows API
linked to: Win32 API