Overview of the IME User Interface

The IME-provided UI consists of the Status, Composition, Candidate, and Guideline windows. By default, the IME creates and manages these windows for all windows that require text input. For most applications, this default processing is sufficient. An application that relies entirely on the IME for its UI is considered IME-unaware because it is unaware that an IME is functioning in the system.

In contrast, an IME-aware application participates in the operation of the IME. Such an application can control the operation, position, and appearance of the IME, or can even provide its own view of the composition string and candidate list.