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