Thread: Is C# the same as win32?

What the title says ?

What the title says.

C# is a programming language, in the .NET family, and somewhat in the C family. Win32 API is a method of windows programming, via directly accessing the Windows 32 bit API (Application Programming Interface). So, if you haven't garnered as much by now, no they are not the same. The .NET framework is really an abstraction layer over the Win32 API, so while using C# you are still using the Win32 API you are not using it directly. However, there are things that can be done directly through the Win32 API that can not be done in .NET


Mezzano

Technically you are not using the Win32 API at all in C# unless you make use of it through using. C# itself exists on more than just the Windows platform. In it's Mono incarnation, it also exists on Macintosh and Linux.

Originally Posted by Frobozz

Technically you are not using the Win32 API at all in C# unless you make use of it through using. C# itself exists on more than just the Windows platform. In it's Mono incarnation, it also exists on Macintosh and Linux.

I was referring to the windows version as that is the only system I know that currently has a robust version of C#. Last I heard Mono, as well as another project implementing C# on linux, were still in development stages. Anytime you do anything in C# under windows (anything that would involve the OS ie creating windows, opening files, getting user input, etc..) you ARE using the Win32 API, perhaps I spoke to narrowly, I should have been more clear


Mezzano

Yes it would use the Win32 API.
Other OS's, however it is implemented, would use other GUI API's.