Microsoft Windows

aid: microsoft-windows
name: Microsoft Windows
description: A collection of APIs and developer resources for Microsoft Windows operating system.
image: https://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-11-logo.png
url: https://developer.microsoft.com/windows
created: '2024'
modified: '2026-04-28'
specificationVersion: '0.19'
apis:
- name: Windows Runtime (WinRT) API
  description: Modern API for building Windows applications with support for multiple programming languages.
  image: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/images/winrt-logo.png
  humanUrl: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/uwp/
  baseUrl: https://api.windows.com
  tags:
  - Applications
  - UWP
  - Windows
  - WinRT
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/uwp/api/
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: https://api.windows.com/openapi.json
  - type: GettingStarted
    url: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/uwp/get-started/
- name: Win32 API
  description: Traditional Windows API for native application development with full system access.
  image: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/images/win32-logo.png
  humanUrl: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/
  baseUrl: https://api.windows.com/win32
  tags:
  - C++
  - Native
  - Win32
  - Windows
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/apiindex/windows-api-list
  - type: Reference
    url: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/api/
  - type: Code Samples
    url: https://github.com/microsoft/Windows-classic-samples
- name: Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)
  description: Infrastructure for management data and operations on Windows systems.
  humanUrl: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/wmisdk/
  baseUrl: https://api.windows.com/wmi
  tags:
  - Management
  - System Administration
  - Windows
  - WMI
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/wmisdk/wmi-reference
  - type: PowerShell Integration
    url: https://docs.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/
- name: Windows PowerShell API
  description: Task automation and configuration management framework from Microsoft.
  humanUrl: https://docs.microsoft.com/powershell/
  baseUrl: https://api.windows.com/powershell
  tags:
  - Automation
  - PowerShell
  - Scripting
  - Windows
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://docs.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/overview
  - type: Module Reference
    url: https://docs.microsoft.com/powershell/module/
  - type: GitHubRepository
    url: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell
- name: Windows Registry API
  description: API for accessing and manipulating the Windows Registry database.
  humanUrl: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/sysinfo/registry
  baseUrl: https://api.windows.com/registry
  tags:
  - Configuration
  - Registry
  - System
  - Windows
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/sysinfo/registry-functions
  - type: Reference
    url: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/sysinfo/registry-reference
- name: Windows Shell API
  description: APIs for interacting with Windows Shell features and user interface elements.
  humanUrl: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/shell/
  baseUrl: https://api.windows.com/shell
  tags:
  - Explorer
  - Shell
  - UI
  - Windows
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/shell/shell-reference
  - type: Samples
    url: https://github.com/microsoft/Windows-classic-samples/tree/main/Samples/Win7Samples/winui/shell
- name: DirectX Graphics API
  description: Collection of APIs for handling tasks related to multimedia and game programming.
  humanUrl: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/directx
  baseUrl: https://api.windows.com/directx
  tags:
  - DirectX
  - Gaming
  - Graphics
  - Windows
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/directx
  - type: Direct3D Reference
    url: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/direct3d12/
  - type: Samples
    url: https://github.com/microsoft/DirectX-Graphics-Samples
- name: Windows Notification API
  description: API for creating and managing Windows notifications and toast messages.
  humanUrl: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/apps/design/shell/tiles-and-notifications/
  baseUrl: https://api.windows.com/notifications
  tags:
  - Notifications
  - Toast
  - User Interface
  - Windows
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/apps/design/shell/tiles-and-notifications/windows-push-notification-services--wns--overview
  - type: Code Samples
    url: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/apps/design/shell/tiles-and-notifications/adaptive-interactive-toasts
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com
common:
- type: LinkedIn
  url: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/microsoft-windows
- type: Portal
  url: https://developer.microsoft.com/windows
- type: Blog
  url: https://blogs.windows.com/windowsdeveloper/
- type: Support
  url: https://support.microsoft.com/windows
- type: GitHubOrganization
  url: https://github.com/microsoft
- type: TermsOfService
  url: https://www.microsoft.com/legal/terms-of-use
- type: PrivacyPolicy
  url: https://privacy.microsoft.com/
- type: SDK Downloads
  url: https://developer.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/
tags:
- Desktop
- Development
- Microsoft
- Operating System
- Windows