What is Messages in VC++

[sukishan]

Messages:

Some of your applications will be made of various objects. Most of the time, more than one application is running on the computer. These two scenarios mean that the operating system is constantly asked to perform some assignments. Because there can be so many requests presented unpredictably, the operating system leaves it up to the objects to specify what they want, when they want it, and what behavior or result they expect. The Microsoft Windows operating system cannot predict what kinds of requests one object would need to be taken care of and what type of assignment another object would need. To manage all these assignments and requests, the objects send messages, one message at a time, to the operating system. For this reason, Microsoft Windows is said to be a message-driven operating system.

The messages are divided in various categories but as mentioned already, each object has the responsibility to decide what message to send and when. Therefore, most of the messages we will review here are part of a window frame. Others will be addressed when necessary.

Once a control has composed a message, it must send it to the right target which could be the operating system. In order to send a message, a control must create an event. It is also said to fire an event. To make a distinction between the two, a message's name usually starts with WM_ which stands for Windows message. The name of an event usually starts with On which indicates an action. Remember, the message is what needs to be sent. The event is the action of sending the message.