The following is a list of the reference content for the Windows application programming
interface (API) for desktop and server applications.
Using the Windows API, you can develop applications that run successfully on all versions of
Windows while taking advantage of the features and capabilities unique to each version. (Note
that this was formerly called the Win32 API. The name Windows API more accurately reflects
its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on 64-bit Windows.)
User interface
The Windows UI API creates and uses windows to display output, prompt for user input, and
carry out the other tasks that support interaction with the user. Most applications create at least
one window.
Accessibility
Desktop Window Manager (DWM)
Globalization Services
High DPI
Multilingual User Interface (MUI)
National Language Support (NLS)
User Interface elements:
o Buttons
o Carets
o Combo Boxes
o Common Dialog Boxes
o Common Controls
o Cursors
o Dialog Boxes
o Edit Controls
o Header Controls
o Icons
o Keyboard Accelerators
o List Boxes
o List-View Controls
o Menus
o Progress Bars
o Property Sheets
o Rich Edit Controls
o Scroll Bars
o Static Controls
o Strings
o Toolbars
o Tooltips
o Trackbars
o Tree-View Controls
Windows Animation Manager
Windows Ribbon Framework
Windows environment (Shell)
Windows Property System
Windows Shell
Windows Search
Consoles
User input and messaging
User Interaction
o Direct Manipulation
o Ink input
o Input Feedback Configuration
o Interaction Context
o Pointer Device Input Stack
o Pointer Input Messages and Notifications
o Radial controller input
o Text Services Framework
o Touch Hit Testing
o Touch Injection
Legacy User Interaction
o Touch Input
o Keyboard Input
o Mouse Input
o Raw Input
Windows and Messages:
o Messages and Message Queues
o Windows
o Window Classes
o Window Procedures
o Timers
o Window Properties
o Hooks
Data access and storage
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
Data Backup
o Backup
o Data Deduplication
o Volume Shadow Copy
o Windows Server Backup
Data Exchange:
o Clipboard
o Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE)
o Dynamic Data Exchange Management (DDEML)
Directory Management
Disk Management
Distributed File System (DFS)
Distributed File System Replication
Extensible Storage Engine
Files and I/O (Local file system)
iSCSI Discovery Library API
Offline Files
Packaging
Remote Differential Compression
Transactional NTFS
Volume Management
Virtual Hard Disk (VHD)
Windows Storage Management
Windows Data Access Components
o Microsoft Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)
o Microsoft OLE DB
o Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects (ADO)
Diagnostics
The Diagnostics API enable you to troubleshoot application or system problems and monitor
performance.
Application Recovery and Restart
Debugging
Error Handling
Event Logging
Event Tracing
Hardware Counter Profiling (HCP)
Network Diagnostics Framework (NDF)
Network Monitor
Performance Counters
Performance Logs and Alerts (PLA)
Process Snapshotting
Process Status (PSAPI)
Structured Exception Handling
System Monitor
Wait Chain Traversal
Windows Error Reporting (WER)
Windows Event Log
Windows Troubleshooting Platform
Graphics and multimedia
The Graphics, multimedia, audio, and video APIs enable applications to incorporate formatted
text, graphics, audio, and video.
Core Audio
Direct2D
DirectComposition
DirectShow
DirectWrite
DirectX
Graphics Device Interface (GDI)
GDI+
Media Streaming
Microsoft Media Foundation
Microsoft TV Technologies
OpenGL
Monitor Configuration
Multiple Display Monitors
Picture Acquisition
Windows Color System
Windows Imaging Component (WIC)
Windows Media Audio and Video Codec and DSP
Windows Media Center
Windows Media Format
Windows Media Library Sharing Services
Windows Media Player
Windows Media Services
Windows Movie Maker
Windows Multimedia
Devices
AllJoyn
Communications Resources
Device Access
Device Management
Enhanced Storage
Function Discovery
Image Mastering
Location
PnP-X Association Database
Printing
o Print Spooler
o Print Document Package
o Print Schema Specification
o Print Ticket
o XPS Print
Sensors
System Event Notification Service (SENS)
Tool Help
UPnP
Web Services on Devices
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)
Windows Media Device Manager
Windows Portable Devices
System services
The System Services APIs give applications access to the resources of the computer and the
features of the underlying operating system, such as memory, file systems, devices, processes,
and threads.
COM
COM+
Compression API
Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC)
Dynamic-Link Libraries (DLLs)
Help API
Interprocess Communications:
o Mailslots
o Pipes
Kernel Transaction Manager (KTM)
Memory Management
Operation Recorder
Power Management
Remote Desktop Services
Processes
Services
Synchronization
Threads
Windows Desktop Sharing
Windows System Information
o Handle and Objects
o Registry
o Time
o Time Provider
Security and identity
The Security and Identity APIs enable password authentication at logon, discretionary protection
for all sharable system objects, privileged access control, rights management, and security
auditing.
Authentication
Authorization
Certificate Enrollment
Cryptography
Cryptographic Next Generation (CNG)
Directory Services
o Active Directory Domain Services
o Active Directory Service Interfaces (ADSI)
Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP)
Extensible Authentication Protocol Host (EAPHost)
MS-CHAP Password Management
Network Access Protection (NAP)
Network Policy Server Extensions (NPS)
Parental Controls
Security WMI Providers
TPM Base Services (TBS)
Windows Biometric Framework
Application installation and servicing
Games Explorer
Side-by-side Assemblies
Packaging, deployment, and query APIs
Developer License
Restart Manager
Windows Installer
System admin and management
The System administration interfaces enable you to install, configure, and service applications or
systems.
Boot Configuration Data WMI Provider
Failover Clusters
File Server Resource Manager (FSRM)
Group Policy
Microsoft Management Console (MMC) 2.0
NetShell
Settings Management Infrastructure
Software Inventory Logging
Software Licensing
Restart Manager
Settings Management Infrastructure
System Restore
System Shutdown
Task Scheduler
User Access Logging
Windows Virtual PC
Microsoft Virtual Server
Network Load Balancing Provider
Windows Defender WMI v2
Windows Deployment Services
Windows Genuine Advantage
Windows Management Infrastructure
Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)
Windows Remote Management
Windows Resource Protection
Windows Server Update Services
Windows System Assessment Tool
Windows Update Agent
Networking and internet
The Networking APIs enable communication between applications over a network. You can also
create and manage access to shared resources, such as directories and network printers.
Domain Name System (DNS)
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
Fax Service
Get Connected Wizard
HTTP Server
Internet Connection Sharing and Firewall
IP Helper
IPv6 Internet Connection Firewall
Management Information Base
Message Queuing (MSMQ)
Multicast Address Dynamic Client Allocation Protocol (MADCAP)
Network Address Translation (NAT)
Network List Manager (NLM)
Network Management
Network Share Management
Peer-to-Peer
Quality of Service (QOS)
Remote Procedure Call
Routing and Remote Access Service (RAS)
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
SMB Management
Telephony Application Programming Interfaces (TAPI)
WebDAV
WebSocket Protocol Component
Wireless networking:
o Bluetooth
o IrDA
o Mobile Broadband
o Native Wifi
o Windows Connect Now
o Windows Connection Manager
Windows Filtering Platform
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
Windows HTTP Services (WinHTTP)
Windows Internet (WinINet)
Windows Networking (WNet)
Windows Network Virtualization
Windows RSS Platform
Windows Sockets (Winsock)
Windows Web Services
XML HTTP Extended Request
Deprecated or legacy APIs
The following are technologies and APIs that are outdated or have been replaced or deprecated
from the Windows client and server operating systems.
DirectMusic
DirectSound
Microsoft UDDI SDK is now included with Microsoft BizTalk Server.
Network Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE)
Remote Installation Service: Use Windows Deployment Services instead.
Virtual Disk Service (VDS): Use Windows Storage Management instead.
Terminal Services: Use Remote Desktop Services.
Windows Media Rights Manager
Windows Messaging (MAPI): Use Office MAPI instead.
Windows Gadget Platform: Create UWP apps instead.
Windows Sidebar: Create UWP apps instead.
Windows SideShow: No replacement.
WPF Bitmap Effects
