DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) developed by Microsoft for handling multimedia and gaming tasks on Windows-based computers. It provides developers with a set of tools and libraries to create multimedia applications, games, and other interactive software.
The first version of DirectX was released in 1995, and it has since undergone several updates and revisions. The latest version, DirectX 12 Ultimate, was released in 2020 and is designed to work with Windows 10.
DirectX provides a range of features, including graphics, audio, input, and networking capabilities. It is primarily used by game developers to create high-performance, immersive gaming experiences on Windows-based computers. DirectX allows developers to work closely with the hardware, providing access to low-level features and optimizing performance for specific hardware configurations.
Some of the popular APIs included in DirectX are Direct3D (for 3D graphics rendering), DirectSound (for audio processing), and DirectInput (for input handling). DirectX also includes tools for debugging and profiling game performance, as well as libraries for handling network communication and creating user interfaces.
In addition to game development, DirectX is also used for multimedia applications such as video editing, 3D modeling, and virtual reality. Overall, DirectX is an essential tool for developers who want to create high-performance multimedia applications and games on Windows-based computers.