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> [!div class="button"]
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> [Design Guidance in WinUI Gallery](winui3gallery://item/Color)
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## Microsoft Store Asset Guidance Kit
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:::image type="content" source="images/store-asset-kit.png" alt-text="A cover image of the Microsoft Store Asset Guidance Kit":::
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The Microsoft Store Asset Guidance Kit for Figma provides templates and tools to help create high-quality screenshots, app icons, and other assets for publishing on the Microsoft Store.
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This kit supports the full process of creating, testing, and submitting app and game assets. It includes guidance for logo and icon sizing, along with previews that show how your icon will appear in the Store after submission to Partner Center. It also offers customizable templates to help produce consistent, polished screenshots for your app or game.
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> [!div class="button"]
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> [Microsoft Store Asset Guidance Kit for Figma](https://www.figma.com/community/file/1568793421368412416)
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## Samples
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Check out the [Samples and resources page](https://developer.microsoft.com/windows/samples) for complete list of all our Windows app samples.
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Additionally, you can now integrate a sandbox environment into your packaged WPF applications, providing an extra layer of security. This enhancement requires little to no change to your code, thanks to the new [Win32 App Isolation](https://github.com/microsoft/win32-app-isolation) security feature.
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> [!TIP]
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> If you already invested in WPF, you can continue to use it and take advantage of the modernization options in .NET 9. You can build your apps knowing that Microsoft is continuing to invest in WPF. See the [Windows developer FAQ](windows-developer-faq.yml) for more information.
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> If you already invested in WPF, you can continue to use it and take advantage of the modernization options in .NET 9. You can build your apps knowing that Microsoft is continuing to invest in WPF. See the [Windows developer FAQ](windows-developer-faq.md) for more information.
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> [Get started with WPF](/dotnet/desktop/wpf/overview/)
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title: Windows developer glossary
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description: A glossary of terms related to Windows application development.
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ms.topic: glossary
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ms.date: 11/25/2025
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ms.date: 12/05/2025
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ms.localizationpriority: medium
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ms.collection: windows11
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audience: new-desktop-app-developers
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# Windows developer glossary
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The following glossary of terms is meant to promote a common vocabulary among Windows developers.
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This glossary promotes a common vocabulary among Windows developers.
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#### App lifecycle management (ALM)
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Describes the management of your application's execution state: not running, running in background, running in foreground, suspended, and so on. See [Windows 10 universal Windows platform (UWP) app lifecycle](/windows/uwp/launch-resume/app-lifecycle).
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Manage an application's execution state: not running, running in the background, running in the foreground, or suspended. See [UWP app lifecycle](/windows/uwp/launch-resume/app-lifecycle).
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#### Application model
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Often referred to as "app model". The combination of deployment, isolation, lifecycle, and presentation components that are unique to a given application development technology. For example: Windows App SDK / WinUI 3 apps run on the Win32 app model, while UWP / WinUI 2 run on the UWP app model.
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Often referred to as "app model." The application model combines deployment, isolation, lifecycle, and presentation components that are unique to a given application development technology. For example, Windows App SDK and WinUI apps run on the Win32 app model, while WinUI for UWP apps run on the UWP app model.
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#### Application packaging
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Describes the way in which your app is packaged before being deployed and installed by users. An app can be packaged, unpackaged, or packaged with external location (see the [Windows developer FAQ](/windows/apps/get-started/windows-developer-faq#what-s-the-difference-between-apps-that-are-packaged--unpackaged--and-packaged-with-external-location)).
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#### Azure AI Foundry
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A managed platform for building, evaluating, and deploying generative AI applications with foundation models. Formerly known as Azure AI Studio. See [Azure AI Foundry documentation](/azure/ai-foundry/).
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#### Bootstrapper
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A redistributable component providing an API to find and load the Windows App SDK framework package for the calling process. In a packagedwithexternallocation or unpackaged app, you can opt to load the Windows App SDK framework package explicitly by calling Bootstrapper APIs such as [MddBootstrapInitialize](/windows/windows-app-sdk/api/win32/mddbootstrap/nf-mddbootstrap-mddbootstrapinitialize). Also see[Reference the Windows App SDK framework package at run time](../windows-app-sdk/use-windows-app-sdk-run-time.md).
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A redistributable component that provides an API to find and load the Windows App SDK framework package for the calling process. In a packaged-with-external-location or unpackaged app, you can load the Windows App SDK framework package explicitly by calling Bootstrapper APIs such as [MddBootstrapInitialize](/windows/windows-app-sdk/api/win32/mddbootstrap/nf-mddbootstrap-mddbootstrapinitialize). See[Reference the Windows App SDK framework package at run time](../windows-app-sdk/use-windows-app-sdk-run-time.md).
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#### C++/WinRT
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C++/WinRT is a standard C++17 language projection for Windows Runtime (WinRT) APIs, implemented as a header-file-based library, and designed to provide you with first-class access to modern Windows APIs. [C++/WinRT](/windows/uwp/cpp-and-winrt-apis/).
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C++/WinRT is a standard C++17 language projection for Windows Runtime (WinRT) APIs, implemented as a header-based library, and designed to provide first-class access to modern Windows APIs. See[C++/WinRT](/windows/uwp/cpp-and-winrt-apis/).
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#### DirectML
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"Managed" refers to the "managed runtime" of .NET, which provides managed services such as garbage collection and security assurances. If you're building an app with .NET, you're building a managed app.
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#### MCP Servers
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MCP is an open protocol designed to standardize integrations between AI apps and external tools and data sources. [Model Context Protocol (MCP) Servers](/windows/ai/mcp/overview).
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#### Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC)
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You can use Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) to create complex user interfaces with multiple controls. You can use MFC to create applications with Office-style user interfaces. See: [MFC desktop applications](/cpp/mfc/mfc-desktop-applications).
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#### Microsoft Foundry
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A managed platform for building, evaluating, and deploying generative AI applications with foundation models. Formerly Azure AI Foundry. See [Microsoft Foundry documentation](/azure/ai-foundry/).
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#### MSIX (Microsoft Installer package format)
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MSIX is a Windows app package format that combines the best features of MSI, .appx, App-V, and ClickOnce to provide a modern and reliable packaging experience. It's a modern application package format that lets you easily deploy your Windows applications. MSIX can be used to package apps built using Windows App SDK, Win32, WPF, or Windows Forms. When you use MSIX to deploy your apps, your app is a *packaged* app. A packaged app can check for updates, and can control when updates are applied. [What is MSIX?](/windows/msix/overview).
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#### Neural Processing Unit (NPU)
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A dedicated on‑device AI accelerator optimized for transformer operations and other ML workloads. Windows apps can target NPUs via APIs like [DirectML](/windows/ai/directml/dml-intro).
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#### Text recognition
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Text recognition, also known as optical character recognition (OCR), is supported by a set of Windows AI APIs that can detect and extract text within images and convert it into machine readable character streams. See [Get started with AI Text Recognition](/windows/ai/apis/text-recognition).
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A dedicated on‑device AI accelerator optimized for transformer operations and other ML workloads. Windows apps can target NPUs via APIs included as part of [Foundry Local](/windows/ai/foundry-local/get-started).
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#### ONNX Runtime (ORT)
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A high‑performance, cross‑platform inference engine for models in the ONNX format. On Windows, ORT commonly uses the DirectML execution provider for GPU/NPU acceleration. See [ONNX Runtime documentation](https://onnxruntime.ai/docs/). WindowsML uses ONNX Runtime under the hood.
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A high‑performance, cross‑platform inference engine for models in the ONNX format. See [Run ONNX models](/windows/ai/new-windows-ml/run-onnx-models).
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#### Packaged app
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#### React Native for Desktop
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[React Native for Desktop](https://aka.ms/reactnative) brings React Native support to the Windows 10 and Windows 11 SDKs, enabling developers to use JavaScript to build native Windows apps for all devices supported by Windows 10 and Windows 11. This includes PCs, tablets, 2-in-1s, Xbox, Mixed reality devices, etc. The term React Native for Desktop encompasses both React Native for Windows and React Native for macOS.
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[React Native for Desktop](https://aka.ms/reactnative) brings React Native support to the Windows SDKs, enabling developers to use JavaScript to build native Windows apps for devices supported by Windows 10 and Windows 11. This includes PCs, tablets, 2-in-1s, and Xbox. The term React Native for Desktop encompasses both React Native for Windows and React Native for macOS.
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#### Responsible AI (RAI)
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A set of recommended responsible development practices to use as you create applications and features. See [Developing Responsible Generative AI Applications and Features on Windows](/windows/ai/rai/) to learn more about the RAI principles and how they apply to Windows development.
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#### Small language model (SLM)
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A compact model (for example, Microsoft Phi‑3) designed to run efficiently on client devices (CPU/GPU/NPU) with lower latency and cost, suitable for many on‑device AI scenarios. See [Get started with Phi Silica](/windows/ai/apis/phi-silica).
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A compact model (for example, Microsoft Phi 3) designed to run efficiently on client devices (CPU, GPU, or NPU) with lower latency and cost, suitable for many on device AI scenarios. See [Get started with Phi Silica](/windows/ai/apis/phi-silica).
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#### Text recognition
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Text recognition, also known as optical character recognition (OCR), is supported by Windows AI APIs that detect and extract text within images and convert it into machine-readable character streams. See [Get started with AI Text Recognition](/windows/ai/apis/text-recognition).
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#### Universal Windows Platform (UWP)
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An application development platform and application model that uses Windows Runtime (WinRT) APIs to deliver packaged apps. UWP apps run in a sandboxed environment, and they inherit the security of the UWP platform. [Learn more about UWP](/windows/uwp/).
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>[!NOTE]
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> The [preferred approach for writing Windows apps](/windows/apps/get-started/) is to use the Windows App SDK and [WinUI](/windows/apps/get-started/start-here). Another option is[WPF](/dotnet/desktop/wpf/getting-started).
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> Build Windows apps with [Windows App SDK and WinUI](/windows/apps/get-started/). You can also use[WPF](/dotnet/desktop/wpf/getting-started).
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#### Unmanaged app
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#### WebView2
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A control that allows app developers to embed web content (HTML/CSS/JS) in their native apps using the Microsoft Edge (Chromium) rendering engine. You can use WebView2 in WinUI 3, Win32 C++, WPF, and WinForms, and it offers a developer preview for WinUI 2 / UWP support. See [Introduction to Microsoft Edge WebView2](/microsoft-edge/webview2/).
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A control that allows app developers to embed web content (HTML/CSS/JS) in their native apps using the Microsoft Edge (Chromium) rendering engine. You can use WebView2 in WinUI, Win32 C++, WPF, and WinForms, and it offers a developer preview for WinUI for UWP support. See [Introduction to Microsoft Edge WebView2](/microsoft-edge/webview2/).
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#### Microsoft Foundry on Windows
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Microsoft Foundry on Windows offers AI-backed features and APIs on Windows 11 PCs. These features are in active development. See [What are Windows AI APIs?](/windows/ai/overview).
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Microsoft Foundry on Windows offers AI-backed features and APIs on Windows 11 PCs. These features are in active development. See [Windows AI APIs overview](/windows/ai/overview).
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#### Windows API
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Refers to the entire set of Windows APIs including Win32 APIs, COM APIs, UWP WinRT APIs, and the WinRT/Win32 APIs that are part of the Windows App SDK and WinUI.
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#### Windows App SDK
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A set of new developer components and tools that represent the next evolution in the Windows app development platform. The successor to UWP / WinUI 2 for desktop application development. It lifts libraries from the OS into a standalone SDK that you can use to build backwards-compatible desktop apps, and is often used to ship new features and capabilities. See [Overview of app development options](./index.md).
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A set of developer components and tools that represent the next evolution of the Windows app development platform. The successor to WinUI for UWP for desktop application development. It lifts libraries from the OS into a standalone SDK that you can use to build backward-compatible desktop apps and often ships new features and capabilities. See [Overview of app development options](./index.md).
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The Windows SDK is a collection of headers, libraries, metadata, and tools that allow you to build desktop and UWP Windows apps. The Windows SDK is not the same as the [Windows App SDK](#windows-app-sdk).
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#### WinUI 2
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#### WinUI (previously referred to as WinUI 3)
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WinUI 2 is tightly integrated with Windows SDKs, and provides official native Windows UI controls and other user interface elements for UWP applications (and desktop applications using XAML Islands). See [WinUI 2](/windows/uwp/get-started/winui2/).
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The latest and recommended UI framework for Windows desktop apps. This framework is made available through the Windows App SDK, and has been decoupled from the Windows operating system. WinUI uses [Fluent Design](https://aka.ms/fluent) to provide a native UX framework for Windows desktop apps. It will feel very familiar if you've worked with WinUI for UWP. Note that WinUI apps are commonly referred to as "WinUI apps". See [WinUI](../winui/winui3/index.md).
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#### WinUI (previously referred to as WinUI 3)
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#### WinUI for UWP (previously referred to as WinUI 2)
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The latest and recommended UI framework for Windows desktop apps. This framework is made available through the Windows App SDK, and has been decoupled from the Windows operating system. WinUI uses [Fluent Design](https://aka.ms/fluent) to provide a native UX framework for Windows desktop apps. It will feel very familiar if you've worked with WinUI 2. Note that WinUI apps are commonly referred to as "WinUI apps". See [WinUI](../winui/winui3/index.md).
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WinUI for UWP is tightly integrated with Windows SDKs and provides native Windows UI controls and other user interface elements for UWP applications and desktop applications using XAML Islands. See [WinUI for UWP](/windows/uwp/get-started/winui2/).
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#### XAML Islands
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XAML Islands lets you host WinRT XAML controls in non-UWP desktop (Win32, WinForms, WPF) apps starting in Windows 10, version 1903. [Host WinRT XAML controls in desktop apps (XAML Islands)](../desktop/modernize/xaml-islands/xaml-islands.md).
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#### Windows ML
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Windows APIs for running ONNX models locally in Windows apps, with hardware acceleration via DirectML where available. See [Windows ML](/windows/ai/windows-ml/).
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Windows APIs for running ONNX models locally in Windows apps, with hardware acceleration via DirectML where it's available. See [Windows ML](/windows/ai/new-windows-ml/overview).
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