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DirectDraw provides device-independent access to device-specific display functionality. It accesses important functions in a hardware abstraction layer (HAL) to drive graphics devices directly without the intervention of the Graphical Device Interface (GDI).
This direct path results in smoother animation, and display-intensive software that runs faster and avoids screen flicker. This mechanism offers optimal performance, limited solely by display card performance.
Implementing this direct path involves extending the display driver with functions that access the hardware directly. These functions are used by DirectDraw and make up the DirectDraw Hardware Abstraction Layer (DDHAL). See the Microsoft DirectDraw Hardware Abstraction Layer specification for more information about the capabilities of the DirectDraw HAL.
Last updated on Tuesday, July 13, 2004