aid: microsoft-windows-10 name: Microsoft Windows 10 description: Collection of APIs and developer resources for building applications on the Windows 10 platform, including Universal Windows Platform (UWP), Win32, and Windows Runtime APIs for desktop, mobile, and IoT applications. type: Index image: https://kinlane-productions.s3.amazonaws.com/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg created: '2024-01-01' modified: '2026-04-28' specificationVersion: '0.19' url: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ tags: - Desktop - Operating System - UWP - Win32 - Windows apis: - name: Windows Runtime (WinRT) API description: Modern API surface for building Universal Windows Platform (UWP) applications that run across all Windows 10 device families. WinRT provides a type system, APIs, and runtime environment for building apps using C#, C++, Visual Basic, and JavaScript. image: https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/ baseURL: https://api.windows.com tags: - Universal Apps - UWP - Windows Runtime - WinRT properties: - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/uwp/api/ - type: Getting Started url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/get-started/ - type: Samples url: https://github.com/Microsoft/Windows-universal-samples - type: Reference url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/uwp/api/ - type: SDKs url: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/windows-10-sdk/ - type: OpenAPI url: openapi/microsoft-windows-10-winrt-openapi.yml - name: Win32 API description: Core Windows API for building traditional desktop applications using C and C++. Win32 provides direct access to system-level functionality including window management, graphics, networking, and hardware. image: https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/ baseURL: https://api.windows.com tags: - Desktop - Native - System Programming - Win32 properties: - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/apiindex/windows-api-list - type: Reference url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/ - type: Samples url: https://github.com/microsoft/Windows-classic-samples - type: Getting Started url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/desktop-programming - type: OpenAPI url: openapi/microsoft-windows-10-win32-openapi.yml - name: Windows Notifications API description: API for sending and managing toast notifications, tile notifications, and badge updates in Windows 10 applications. Supports adaptive and interactive notifications with custom layouts, actions, and scheduling. image: https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/design/shell/tiles-and-notifications/ baseURL: https://api.windows.com tags: - Notifications - Tiles - Toast - User Interface properties: - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/design/shell/tiles-and-notifications/adaptive-interactive-toasts - type: Samples url: https://github.com/WindowsNotifications/quickstart-sending-local-toast-win10 - type: Reference url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/uwp/api/windows.ui.notifications - type: OpenAPI url: openapi/microsoft-windows-10-notifications-openapi.yml - name: Windows ML API description: API for integrating trained machine learning models into Windows applications using the ONNX format. Windows ML evaluates models locally on the device using hardware acceleration with DirectX 12. image: https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ai/windows-ml/ baseURL: https://api.windows.com tags: - Artificial Intelligence - Inference - Machine Learning - ONNX properties: - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ai/windows-ml/api-reference - type: Tutorials url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ai/windows-ml/tutorials - type: Samples url: https://github.com/Microsoft/Windows-Machine-Learning - type: Getting Started url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ai/windows-ml/get-started - type: OpenAPI url: openapi/microsoft-windows-10-ml-openapi.yml - name: Windows Storage API description: API for file system access, storage management, and data operations in Windows applications. Provides classes for reading, writing, and managing files and folders with appropriate access permissions. image: https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/files/ baseURL: https://api.windows.com tags: - Data Management - File System - Files - Storage properties: - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/uwp/api/windows.storage - type: Best Practices url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/files/best-practices-for-writing-to-files - type: Getting Started url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/files/ - type: OpenAPI url: openapi/microsoft-windows-10-storage-openapi.yml - name: Windows Cortana API description: API for integrating voice commands and Cortana digital assistant capabilities into Windows applications. Enables voice-activated interactions and custom voice command definitions. image: https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cortana/ baseURL: https://api.windows.com tags: - Cortana - Digital Assistant - Voice - Voice Commands properties: - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cortana/voice-commands/vcd - type: Guidelines url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cortana/voice-commands/voicecommand-design-guidelines - type: OpenAPI url: openapi/microsoft-windows-10-cortana-openapi.yml - name: Windows Ink API description: API for pen and stylus input in Windows applications, providing inking surfaces, stroke recognition, and handwriting analysis. Supports pressure sensitivity, tilt, and barrel button interactions. image: https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/design/input/pen-and-stylus-interactions baseURL: https://api.windows.com tags: - Ink - Input - Pen - Stylus properties: - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/uwp/api/windows.ui.input.inking - type: Samples url: https://github.com/Microsoft/Windows-universal-samples/tree/master/Samples/SimpleInk - type: Getting Started url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/design/input/pen-and-stylus-interactions - type: OpenAPI url: openapi/microsoft-windows-10-ink-openapi.yml - name: Windows Composition API description: The Windows.UI.Composition API provides access to the visual layer between the XAML framework and the DirectX graphics layer. It enables high-performance, retained-mode graphics, effects, and animations as the foundation for UI across Windows devices. image: https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/composition/visual-layer baseURL: https://api.windows.com tags: - Animations - Composition - Graphics - Visual Layer properties: - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/composition/visual-layer - type: Reference url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/uwp/api/windows.ui.composition - type: Samples url: https://github.com/microsoft/Windows.UI.Composition-Win32-Samples - type: Getting Started url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/composition/using-the-visual-layer-with-xaml - type: OpenAPI url: openapi/microsoft-windows-10-composition-openapi.yml - name: DirectX Graphics API description: Low-level graphics API for building high-performance 2D and 3D rendering in Windows applications. Includes Direct3D for 3D graphics, Direct2D for 2D graphics, and DirectWrite for text rendering. image: https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/directx baseURL: https://api.windows.com tags: - DirectX - Gaming - Graphics - Rendering properties: - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/directx - type: Getting Started url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/getting-started-with-directx-graphics - type: Samples url: https://github.com/microsoft/DirectX-Graphics-Samples - type: Reference url: https://microsoft.github.io/DirectX-Specs/ - type: OpenAPI url: openapi/microsoft-windows-10-directx-openapi.yml - name: Windows Media Capture API description: API for capturing photos, audio, and video from camera and microphone devices in Windows applications. Provides classes for previewing, recording, and processing media streams with configurable encoding settings. image: https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/develop/audio-video-camera baseURL: https://api.windows.com tags: - Audio - Camera - Media - Video Capture properties: - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/develop/audio-video-camera - type: Reference url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/uwp/api/windows.media.capture - type: Getting Started url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/medfound/audio-video-capture-in-media-foundation - type: OpenAPI url: openapi/microsoft-windows-10-media-capture-openapi.yml - name: Windows Networking API description: API for network communication in Windows applications, providing support for sockets, WebSockets, HTTP clients, and background transfers. Enables TCP/UDP communication and real-time data streaming. image: https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/networking/ baseURL: https://api.windows.com tags: - HTTP - Networking - Sockets - WebSockets properties: - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/networking/which-networking-technology - type: Reference url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/uwp/api/windows.networking.sockets - type: Samples url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/samples/microsoft/windows-universal-samples/websocket/ - type: OpenAPI url: openapi/microsoft-windows-10-networking-openapi.yml - name: Windows Bluetooth API description: API for Bluetooth communication in Windows applications, supporting Bluetooth Classic (RFCOMM) and Bluetooth Low Energy (GATT) protocols for connecting to and exchanging data with Bluetooth devices. image: https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/devices-sensors/bluetooth baseURL: https://api.windows.com tags: - Bluetooth - Devices - IoT - Wireless properties: - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/devices-sensors/bluetooth-dev-faq - type: Reference url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/_bluetooth/ - type: Getting Started url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/bluetooth/bluetooth-programming-with-windows-sockets - type: OpenAPI url: openapi/microsoft-windows-10-bluetooth-openapi.yml - name: Windows Geolocation API description: API for obtaining geographic location data in Windows applications. Provides access to latitude, longitude, altitude, heading, and speed from GNSS, Wi-Fi, cellular networks, and IP address sources. image: https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/maps-and-location/ baseURL: https://api.windows.com tags: - Geolocation - GPS - Location - Maps properties: - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/uwp/api/windows.devices.geolocation - type: Reference url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/locationapi/windows-location-api-portal - type: Samples url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/samples/microsoft/windows-universal-samples/geolocation/ - type: OpenAPI url: openapi/microsoft-windows-10-geolocation-openapi.yml - name: Windows Sensors API description: API for accessing device sensor data including accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, light sensor, and proximity sensor. Provides a unified interface for reading sensor values and responding to sensor events. image: https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/sensorsapi/introduction-to-the-sensor-and-location-platform-in-windows baseURL: https://api.windows.com tags: - Devices - Hardware - IoT - Sensors properties: - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/sensorsapi/introduction-to-the-sensor-and-location-platform-in-windows - type: Reference url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/uwp/api/windows.devices.sensors - type: OpenAPI url: openapi/microsoft-windows-10-sensors-openapi.yml - name: Windows Hello Authentication API description: Biometric and PIN-based authentication API that replaces passwords with strong two-factor authentication. Supports facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, and PIN-based user verification for secure sign-in. image: https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/develop/security/windows-hello baseURL: https://api.windows.com tags: - Authentication - Biometrics - Identity - Security properties: - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/develop/security/windows-hello - type: Getting Started url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/develop/security/windows-hello-auth-service - type: Reference url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/identity-protection/hello-for-business/webauthn-apis - type: OpenAPI url: openapi/microsoft-windows-10-hello-openapi.yml - name: WinUI API description: Modern native UI framework for building Windows desktop applications with the Fluent Design System. WinUI provides XAML-based controls, high-performance rendering, and supports both C# and C++ development. image: https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/winui/winui2/ baseURL: https://api.windows.com tags: - Controls - Fluent Design - User Interface - XAML properties: - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/winui/winui2/ - type: Reference url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/winui/api/microsoft.ui.xaml.controls - type: Getting Started url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/winui/winui2/getting-started - type: Samples url: https://github.com/microsoft/microsoft-ui-xaml - type: OpenAPI url: openapi/microsoft-windows-10-winui-openapi.yml - name: Windows Background Tasks API description: API for running code in the background when an application is suspended or not running. Supports time-triggered, system-triggered, and maintenance-triggered background tasks for continuous processing. image: https://www.microsoft.com/favicon.ico humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/windows-app-sdk/applifecycle/background-tasks baseURL: https://api.windows.com tags: - App Lifecycle - Background Tasks - Scheduling properties: - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/windows-app-sdk/applifecycle/background-tasks - type: Samples url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/samples/microsoft/windows-universal-samples/backgroundtask/ - type: OpenAPI url: openapi/microsoft-windows-10-background-tasks-openapi.yml common: - type: Portal url: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ - type: Documentation url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/ - type: Getting Started url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/get-started/ - type: Authentication url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/develop/security/windows-hello - type: Blog url: https://blogs.windows.com/windowsdeveloper/ - type: Status url: https://status.cloud.microsoft/ - type: Support url: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/support - type: Terms of Service url: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/terms-of-use - type: Privacy Policy url: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/privacystatement - type: GitHub Organization url: https://github.com/microsoft - type: Community url: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/community/ - type: Website url: https://www.microsoft.com - type: Login url: https://login.microsoftonline.com/ - type: Sign Up url: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/ - type: SDKs url: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/windows-10-sdk/ - type: Change Log url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/whats-new/whats-new-for-developers - type: Reference url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/api-reference/ - type: JSON-LD url: json-ld/microsoft-windows-10-context.jsonld - type: JSONSchema url: json-schema/microsoft-windows-10-notification-schema.json - type: JSONSchema url: json-schema/microsoft-windows-10-storage-item-schema.json - type: JSONSchema url: json-schema/microsoft-windows-10-geolocation-schema.json - type: JSONSchema url: json-schema/microsoft-windows-10-sensor-reading-schema.json - type: JSONSchema url: json-schema/microsoft-windows-10-ml-model-schema.json - type: JSONSchema url: json-schema/microsoft-windows-10-bluetooth-device-schema.json maintainers: - FN: Kin Lane email: kin@apievangelist.com