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Introduction to DirectX Media Objects

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Microsoft DirectX Media Objects (DMOs) are a new way to write data-streaming components. In some respects, DMOs are similar to Microsoft DirectShow® filters. Like a DirectShow filter, a DMO takes input data and uses it to produce output data. However, the application programming interfaces (APIs) for DMOs are much simpler than the corresponding APIs for DirectShow. As a result, DMOs are easier to create, test, and use.

DMOs are fully compatible with DirectShow, but applications can use DMOs without using DirectShow. Within a DirectShow application, DMOs are wrapped by a DirectShow filter called the DMO Wrapper. The distinction between filters and DMOs is transparent to the application, which does not need to use the DMO APIs. On the other hand, applications not based on DirectShow can use DMOs directly. Thus, by writing a DMO, you create a component that can be used in a wide range of applications.

See Also

How DMOs Differ from DirectShow Filters | Why Use DMOs?

Last updated on Wednesday, April 13, 2005

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