M

main priority
One of three thread priority groups. Main is the default priority.
main window
The window that serves as the primary interface between the user and an application.
MDD
See model device driver.
MDI
See multiple-document interface.
menu
A list of items that represent an application's commands. A menu item can be either a string or a bitmap.
menu handle
A unique value of type HMENU used to identify a menu.
menu item
A string or bitmap displayed in a menu. Choosing a menu item either sends a command message or activates a pop-up menu.
menu template
A menu template defines a menu, including the items on a menu bar and all submenus.
message
A structure or set of parameters used for communicating information or a request. Messages can be passed between the operating system and an application, different applications, threads within an application, and windows within an application.
message box
A secondary window that is displayed to inform a user about a particular condition.
message identifier (message ID)
A unique value that identifies a message. System-defined messages use named constants, such as WM_PAINT, as message identifiers. Windows CE reserves message-identifier values in the range 0x0400 through 0x7FFF for application-defined messages.
message queue
An ordered list of messages awaiting transmission, from which they are taken up on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis.
message store
The database in the object store for storing mail messages.
MFC
See Microsoft Foundation Class.
Microsoft Foundation Class
The C++ class library that Microsoft provides with its C++ compiler to assist programmers in creating Windows-based applications. MFC hides the fundamental Windows API in class hierarchies so that programmers can write a Windows-based application without needing to know the details of the native Windows API.
Mobile Channels
A Windows CE technology that represents a fourth type of Internet Explorer 4.0 (IE4) channel to allow the user to access the Web with great mobility.
modal dialog box
A modal dialog box requires the user to supply information or cancel the dialog box before allowing the application to continue.
model device driver (MDD)
The platform-neutral layer of a built-in device driver supplied by Microsoft. See built-in device driver.
modeless dialog box

A modeless dialog box allows the user to supply information and return to a previous task without closing the dialog box.

module

A subset of the Windows CE operating system. Windows CE is structured as a collection of modules. Each module is a self-contained subset of the Windows CE operating system that can be used to construct a customized operating system for a particular device.

monolithic device driver
A sample device driver that comes with the Windows CE Embedded Toolkit for Visual C++ 5.0.
month calendar control
A child window that displays a monthly calendar. The calendar can display one or more months at a time.
multiple-document interface (MDI)
A user interface in an application that allows the user to have more than one document open at the same time. MDI is not supported by Windows CE.
mutex object
An interprocess synchronization object whose state is set to signaled when it is not owned by any thread, and nonsignaled when it is owned. Only one thread at a time can own a mutex.