P/Invoke

P/Invoke (Platform Invocation Services) is a .NET technology that enables managed code (e.g., C# or VB.NET) to call unmanaged functions in native libraries, such as those written in C or C++. It provides a mechanism for interoperability between .NET applications and native code, allowing access to system APIs, third-party libraries, or legacy components. This is achieved by declaring external methods with specific attributes and marshaling data between managed and unmanaged memory.

Also known as: Platform Invoke, Platform Invocation Services, PInvoke, P/Invoke .NET, Interop Services

Why learn P/Invoke?

Developers should learn P/Invoke when building .NET applications that need to interact with operating system APIs (e.g., Windows API functions), use hardware-specific libraries, or integrate with legacy native codebases. It is essential for scenarios like accessing low-level system features, optimizing performance-critical sections with native code, or leveraging existing C/C++ libraries without rewriting them in .NET. However, it requires careful handling to avoid security risks, memory leaks, and compatibility issues.

Learning Resources

• docs: Microsoft Docs: Platform Invoke (P/Invoke)
• tutorial: P/Invoke Tutorial on CodeProject
• video: YouTube: P/Invoke in C# - Calling Native Code
• course: Pluralsight Course: Interop in .NET