COM Interfaces
COM Interfaces are a core concept in Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM) technology, defining binary standards for object-oriented programming across different languages and processes. They specify contracts between COM objects and clients through method signatures and unique identifiers (IIDs), enabling interoperability in Windows-based systems. This allows software components to communicate and be reused independently of their implementation details.
Developers should learn COM Interfaces when working on legacy Windows applications, system-level programming, or integrating with Microsoft technologies like Office, DirectX, or ActiveX controls. They are essential for creating reusable components in environments that require language-neutral and process-transparent communication, such as in COM-based automation or middleware development.