Graphical API - Task 2

In this report I will be discussing what an API is and about the two most used graphical API's, I will also be reviewing the main differences between the two.

Below is a diagram that shows where API would fit in the when a game is being run.

What is an API?

API is an abbreviation for Application programming interface, there are two API's which are most commonly used: DirectX and Open GL.

An API is software that allows the application to communicate with the operating system which then sends it to the graphics driver to communicate with the graphics card which processes it and displays it on the monitor.

Direct X is an API designed and released exclusively for Microsoft platforms, these include Xbox consoles and windows operating systems. The original version of direct X was released in September 1995 with the latest version DirectX 12 being released in July 2015.

Open GL is an API designed in 1991 and released in January 1992 as a cross platform application programming interface used for 2D and 3D graphics.

Comparison between Open GL and DirectX 12:

Open GL and DirectX provide nearly the same level of quality and efficiency, because Open GL is open source the software can be changed by anyone to improve it, whereas DirectX is owned and trademarked by microsoft so they can only change and update the directX versions, this puts DirectX at a disadvantage because new features aren't added as quick as Open GL.

Open GL API is much more compatible than DirectX supporting windows, linux, android, and OSX whereas DirectX only supports windows OS and Xbox; this means that Open GL is a much better choice of API for developers because their game does not need to be edited and reprogrammed to work on the other types of API's.