Microsoft DirectX 8.0 (C++)

The Power of DirectInput

Apart from providing services for devices not supported by the Microsoft® Win32® API, Microsoft DirectInput® gives faster access to input data by communicating directly with the hardware drivers rather than relying on Microsoft Windows® messages.

DirectInput enables an application to retrieve data from input devices even when the application is in the background. It also provides full support for any type of input device, as well as for force feedback.

Through action mapping, applications can retrieve input data without needing to know what kind of device is being used to generate it.

The extended services and improved performance of DirectInput make it a valuable tool for games, simulations, and other real-time interactive applications running under Windows.

DirectInput does not provide any advantages for applications that use the keyboard for text entry or the mouse for navigation. For more information, see Interaction with Windows.