Direct Input

Direct Input

In computing, Direct Input is a deprecated Microsoft API for collecting input from a computer user, via input devices such as the mouse, keyboard, joystick or other game controllers. It also provides a system for action mapping, which allows the user to assign specific actions within a game to the buttons and axes of the input devices. Additionally it handles force-feedback (input/output) devices.

Direct Input provide benefits over normal Win32 input events:

• they enable an application to retrieve data from input devices even when the application is in the background
• they provide full support for any type of input device, as well as for force feedback
• through action mapping, applications can retrieve input data without needing to know what kind of device generated that input