M

major type: A GUID value that describes the overall class of media data for a data stream. Typical values are MEDIATYPE_Video, MEDIATYPE_Audio, MEDIATYPE_Text, and MEDIATYPE_Midi.
merit: A value that controls the order in which the filter graph manager accesses your filter as a result of a call to IGraphBuilder::Connect, IGraphBuilder::Render, or IGraphBuilder::RenderFile. Possible merit values are MERIT_PREFERRED, MERIT_NORMAL, MERIT_UNLIKELY, and MERIT_DO_NOT_USE. See IFilterMapper::RegisterFilter for a description of merit values. When searching for a rendering configuration, the filter graph manager uses the filter mapper, which reads the registry and determines the types of filters available. The filter graph manager then attempts to link filters that accept that data type until it reaches a rendering filter. A merit value is registered with each filter and, of the filters that might be capable of handling the data, the filters with the highest merit are tried first. The filter graph manager uses other criteria in the registration to choose between filters with equal merit. AMovieSetupRegisterFilter2 registers a filter's merit, pins, and media types in the registry using IFilterMapper2.
method: A predefined interface function.
media sample protocol: A protocol that defines the way that media samples are allocated and passed between filters.
media time: A term used to refer to positions within a seekable medium. Media time can be expressed in a variety of units, and indicates a position within the data in the file.
minidriver: A hardware-specific DLL that uses a Microsoft-provided class driver to accomplish most actions through function calls and provides only device-specific controls. Under the Windows Driver Model (WDM), the minidriver registers each adapter with the class driver, which creates the device object. The minidriver uses the class driver's device object to make system calls.
minor type: See subtype.