COM (Component Object Model)

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COM (Component Object Model)

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Definition

Component Object Model (COM) is a technique developed by Microsoft to exchange information between processes in Windows. COM allows easy reuse of previously written program code and can be used independently of the programming language, allowing the program code to be used independently of the operating system.

The architecture of COM can be divided into the following five categories:

COM client

The client is the program that creates an object of a COM component or uses the functions of one.

COM component

A COM component offers the functions of one or more COM interfaces. The objects are created by implementation in COM servers.

COM server

COM servers are dynamic program libraries or executable programs created in a COM-supporting programming language. They can create or offer COM components.

COM interface

A COM interface enables communication between client and server. The interfaces are defined in general terms and have unique identification numbers, which means that several interfaces with the same name can exist.

COM Apartment

A created object is always assigned to one of three apartments. These apartments are used for security and determine how often an object can be accessed at the same time.

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References

1. Wikipedia: Component Object Model

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