| Platform SDK: Windows Sockets |
Windows Sockets network services follow the WOSA model, meaning that there exists a Windows Sockets Application Programming Interface (API), which is the application programmer's access to network services, Windows Sockets Service Provider Interfaces (SPIs) which are implemented by transport service providers and name resolution service provider vendors, and Ws2_32.dll. The Windows Sockets 2 WOSA-compliant architecture is illustrated below.
The SPI is intended to be used within all 32-bit implementations and versions of Microsoft® Windows® including Windows® NT® and Windows® 95®.