They come under the category of an API. API stands for Application Programming Interface. APIs are typically given to present what are called high-level commands to the programmer, so that he/she doesn''t have to worry about all sorts of minor details.

Low-level is something like asm -- it''s whatever you need to "micromanage" a particular task, when you know just about everything going on and you personally control it.

High-level is more along the lines of a "black box", which simply works and you don''t know how it works but you can still use it fine.

Assembly languages are an example of low-level languages, and Visual Basic is an example of a high-level language. As you probably realized, high- or low-level is relative, and it depends on the task you are trying to accomplish.

But back to the main question. An API puts a really easy interface on something that is very complex, kind of like in a CD player where you hit the play button and the CD plays music. You (the user) do not have to know about the aiming of the laser and how the volume control works together with the speakers, etc. you just plug the thing into the wall and it plays music (well, not mine anyway ).

I can continue with this if you want, but I feel like I''m rambling now...




- null_pointer
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