Component Object Model
lastmod 2025-02-26created 2025-02-261 edits
Component Object Model (COM) is an application binary interface standard for software components developed by Microsoft. Microsoft introduced it in 1993. Programs developed with COM are capable of interprocess communication and dynamic object creation. In software development, the term COM is often used as an umbrella concept that encompasses the OLE, OLE Automation, ActiveX, COM+, and DCOM technologies. Although COM was introduced in 1993, Microsoft did not begin emphasizing the name COM until 1997.
Although COM has been implemented on various platforms, it is mainly used on Microsoft Windows. COM is expected to be replaced by other technologies such as the .NET Framework.