Win32 API Design

The Win32 API set has been designed with portability and security in mind. In addition, the single biggest factor influencing the API set is to preserve the functionality, style, and interfaces of the existing Windows API set. Wherever possible, existing functions are expanded to 32-bits and classified as a Win32 API. If a security, or portability problem exists with an function, a new Win32 function was added that provides similar functionality as the existing function, but accommodates the security/portability concerns.