Editing Windows API (section)

==Services==

{{Update section|reason=The categories are out of date, as are the references for it; see, for example, https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/apiindex/windows-api-list.|date=May 2023}}

This section lists notable services provided by the Windows API.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/apiindex/windows-api-list |title=Windows API Index|date=March 15, 2023 }}</ref>

===Base Services===
Base services include features such as the [[file system]], [[Computer hardware|devices]], [[Process (computing)|processes]], [[Thread (computer science)|threads]], and [[error handling]]. These functions reside in <samp>kernel.exe</samp>, <samp>krnl286.exe</samp> or <samp>krnl386.exe</samp> files on 16-bit Windows, and <samp>[[kernel32.dll]] and KernelBase.dll</samp> on 32 and 64 bit Windows. These files reside in the folder <samp>\Windows\System32</samp> on all versions of Windows.<ref name="msdn-base">[[Microsoft Developer Network]] (July 2005). ''[http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/winprog/winprog/base_services.asp Base Services.]'' Retrieved August 28, 2005.</ref>

===Advanced Services===
Advanced services include features beyond the kernel like the [[Windows registry]], shutdown/restart the system (or abort), start/stop/create a [[Windows service]], manage user accounts. These functions reside in <samp>advapi32.dll</samp> and <samp>advapires32.dll</samp> on 32-bit Windows.

===Graphics Device Interface===
The [[Graphics Device Interface]] (GDI) component provides features to output graphics content to [[computer display|monitors]], [[Computer printer|printers]], and other [[output device]]s. It resides in <samp>gdi.exe</samp> on 16-bit Windows, and <samp>[[gdi32.dll]]</samp> on 32-bit Windows in user-mode. Kernel-mode GDI support is provided by <code>win32k.sys</code> which communicates directly with the graphics driver.<ref name="msdn-gdi">[[Microsoft Developer Network]] (July 2005). ''[http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/winprog/winprog/graphics_device_interface.asp Graphics Device Interface.]'' Retrieved August 28, 2005.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms789535.aspx|title=G|publisher=[[Microsoft Developer Network]]|access-date=2009-01-28}}</ref>

===User Interface===
The [[Windows User|User Interface]] component provides features to create and manage screen [[window (computing)|windows]] and most basic controls, such as [[button (computing)|buttons]] and [[scrollbar]]s, receive mouse and keyboard input, and other functions associated with the [[graphical user interface]] (GUI) part of Windows. This functional unit resides in <samp>user.exe</samp> on 16-bit Windows, and <samp>[[user32.dll]]</samp> on 32-bit Windows. Since [[Windows XP]] versions, the basic controls reside in <samp>comctl32.dll</samp>, together with the common controls (Common Control Library).<ref name="msdn-ui">[[Microsoft Developer Network]] (July 2005). ''[http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/winprog/winprog/user_interface.asp User Interface.]'' Retrieved August 28, 2005.</ref>

===Common Dialog Box Library===
The Common Dialog Box Library provides standard [[dialog box]]es to open and save files, choose color and font, etc. The library resides in a file called <samp>commdlg.dll</samp> on 16-bit Windows, and <samp>comdlg32.dll</samp> on 32-bit Windows. It is grouped under the ''User Interface'' category of the API.<ref name="msdn-comdlg">[[Microsoft Developer Network]] (2005). ''[http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/winui/winui/windowsuserinterface/userinput/commondialogboxlibrary.asp Common Dialog Box Library.]'' Retrieved September 22, 2005.</ref>

===Common Control Library===
The Common Control Library provides access to advanced user interface controls, including things like [[status bar]]s, [[progress bar]]s, [[toolbar]]s and [[tab (GUI)|tabs]]. The library resides in a DLL file called <samp>commctrl.dll</samp> on 16-bit Windows, and <samp>comctl32.dll</samp> on 32-bit Windows. It is grouped under the ''User Interface'' category of the API.<ref name="msdn-ccl">[[Microsoft Developer Network]] (July 2005). ''[http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/winprog/winprog/common_control_library.asp Common Control Library.]'' Retrieved August 28, 2005.</ref>

===Windows Shell===
The Windows Shell component provides access to the [[operating system shell]]. The component resides in <samp>shell.dll</samp> on 16-bit Windows, and <samp>shell32.dll</samp> on 32-bit Windows. The Shell Lightweight Utility Functions are in <samp>shlwapi.dll</samp>. It is grouped under the ''User Interface'' category of the API.<ref name="msdn-shell">[[Microsoft Developer Network]] (July 2005). ''[http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/winprog/winprog/windows_shell.asp Windows Shell.]'' Retrieved August 28, 2005.</ref><ref name="msdn-shell2">[[Microsoft Developer Network]] (2005). ''[http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/shellcc/platform/shell/programmersguide/shell_intro.asp Shell Programmer's Guide.]'' Retrieved August 28, 2005.</ref> 

===Network Services===
Network Services provide access to the various [[Computer network|networking]] abilities of the operating system. Its subcomponents include [[NetBIOS]], [[Winsock]], [[NetDDE]], [[remote procedure call]] (RPC) and many more. This component resides in <samp>netapi32.dll</samp> on 32-bit Windows.<ref name="msdn-network">[[Microsoft Developer Network]] (July 2005). ''[http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa969177 Network Services.]'' Retrieved August 28, 2005.</ref>

===Web===
The [[Internet Explorer]] (IE) web browser exposes APIs and as such could be considered part of the Windows API. IE has been included with the operating system since [[Windows 95 OSR2]] and has provided web-related services to applications since [[Windows 98]].<ref name="msdn-browser">[[Microsoft Developer Network]] (January 2006); ''[http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/workshop/browser/prog_browser_node_entry.asp Programming and reusing the browser]'' Retrieved January 22, 2006.</ref>