Chapter 5 -- Component Solutions Architecture

The Component Object Model (COM) provides a standard definition of how application and component objects (such as Microsoft Word or a custom Visual Basic application) communicate and share data. This interaction is accomplished through the use of COM interfaces.

This lesson describes the COM architecture, and explains the role of interfaces in the communication between COM objects. It also describes how DCOM is used to provide object communication over networks.

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After this lesson, you will be able to:

• Describe the features of the COM architecture.
• Describe object communication through COM technology.
• Explain how the IUnknown interface manages the other interfaces associated with an object.
• Describe DCOM.

Estimated lesson time 15 minutes

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