A high-level language and programming interface used to create graphics images. Graphics applications make programming calls to the APIs of the language, and the graphics drivers render the images on the screen or printer. The major graphics languages are GDI, DirectX, QuickDraw, Display PDF and OpenGL. Windows uses GDI and DirectX, while the Mac uses QuickDraw and Display PDF. OpenGL drivers are available for Windows and Unix and the Mac via X Window. See
graphics engine,
GDI,
DirectX,
QuickDraw,
Display PDF and
OpenGL.