Using Asynchronous Pluggable Protocols

Asynchronous pluggable protocols enable you to create pluggable protocol handlers, MIME filters, and namespace handlers that work with URL monikers in Internet Explorer. A pluggable protocol handler is implemented as an apartment-threaded COM object that handles any calls made to the protocol scheme for which it is registered. Applications can use pluggable protocol handlers to handle a custom URL protocol scheme or filter data for a designated MIME type. Pluggable MIME filters can be used to filter data for a particular MIME type. Unlike standard pluggable protocol handlers and pluggable namespace handlers, which only provide data, pluggable MIME filters both read and provide data.

You can register new URL protocol handlers by registering a URL protocol and its associated application so that all attempts to navigate to a URL using that protocol launch the application (for example, registering applications to handle mailto: or news: URLs). You can also define new protocols by using the asynchronous pluggable protocols API.

For more information about implementing and registering URL protocol handlers, see the Asynchronous Pluggable Protocols documentation in the MSDN online library.

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