A set of Windows interfaces from Microsoft for programming graphics and sound. Windows developers program to the DirectX APIs, and the manufacturers of sound cards and display adapters write DirectX drivers to be included with their hardware. DirectX provides a high-level interface for accessing low-level functions "directly." It accesses the hardware abstraction layer in Windows (see HAL).
The first DirectX API was introduced in late 1995 to encourage game developers to move their software to Windows. Before DirectX, games for the PC were written in DOS in order to redraw the screen fast enough for real time animation. To obtain the speed, gaming companies had to write drivers for a variety of display adapters, which was a development headache.
A Single Graphics Interface for Windows
DirectX provides the interface to access the frame buffer and advanced features of the display adapter, which are not provided in the standard Windows GDI graphics interface. When DirectX was introduced, display adapter vendors were quick to develop DirectX drivers that would expose low-level functions of their hardware to the application.
Emulate Graphics Functions in Software
Through the Hardware Emulation Layer (HEL), DirectX is capable of emulating graphics functions in software that are not built into the display adapter (video card). See graphics pipeline.
Which DirectX Version Is Running?
To determine which version of DirectX is installed in your PC, select Run from the Start menu, type in dxdiag and click OK. Look under System Information for the DirectX Version number. See DirectX 10, GDI, video accelerator and DirectSound.
The first DirectX API was introduced in late 1995 to encourage game developers to move their software to Windows. Before DirectX, games for the PC were written in DOS in order to redraw the screen fast enough for real time animation. To obtain the speed, gaming companies had to write drivers for a variety of display adapters, which was a development headache.
A Single Graphics Interface for Windows
DirectX provides the interface to access the frame buffer and advanced features of the display adapter, which are not provided in the standard Windows GDI graphics interface. When DirectX was introduced, display adapter vendors were quick to develop DirectX drivers that would expose low-level functions of their hardware to the application.
Emulate Graphics Functions in Software
Through the Hardware Emulation Layer (HEL), DirectX is capable of emulating graphics functions in software that are not built into the display adapter (video card). See graphics pipeline.
Which DirectX Version Is Running?
To determine which version of DirectX is installed in your PC, select Run from the Start menu, type in dxdiag and click OK. Look under System Information for the DirectX Version number. See DirectX 10, GDI, video accelerator and DirectSound.
DirectX Interface Purpose DirectDraw 2D graphics Direct3D 3D graphics DirectSound audio DirectSound3D 3D audio (gaming) DirectPlay multi-player control (gaming) DirectInput input device control (gaming) DirectVoice players talk to each other (gaming) DirectShow audio, video, streaming media DirectVideo video (earlier API)
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
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