1.3. Terminology
Windows, like UNIX or VMS, is a complete operating system. When you use this operating system, you refer to it as "Windows 2000," or "Windows 98," or generically as "Windows," and leave it at that. When you program for the system, you are programming for Windows as well. More specifically, however, you are using the "Win32 API" (Application Programmer Interface), also known as "the 32-bit API." In this book, programming for "Windows," "Win32," and "the 32-bit API" are equivalent, and you will find them used interchangeably.
The 32-bit API is huge. It contains thousands of functions broken up into hundreds of categories. It is a comprehensive, all-encompassing programmer interface to the many capabilities provided by the Windows ...
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