Microsoft Foundation Class Library
Developer(s) | Microsoft |
---|---|
Initial release | 1992 |
Stable release | 14.22.27821.0
/ July 24, 2019[1] |
Written in | C++ |
Operating system | Microsoft Windows |
License | Proprietary |
Website | docs |
Microsoft Foundation Class Library(MFC) is aC++object-orientedlibraryfor developing desktop applications forWindows.
MFC was introduced byMicrosoftin 1992 and quickly gained widespread use. While Microsoft has introduced alternative application frameworks since then, MFC remains widely used.
History[edit]
MFC was introduced in 1992 with Microsoft'sC/C++ 7.0compilerfor use with16-bitversions of Windows as an extremely thin object-oriented C++ wrapper for the Windows API. C++ was just beginning to replaceCfor development of commercial application software at the time. In an MFC program, directWindows APIcalls are rarely needed. Instead, programs create objects from Microsoft Foundation Class classes and call member functions belonging to those objects. Many of those functions share their names with corresponding API functions.[2]
One quirk of MFC is the use of "Afx" as the prefix for many functions, macros and the standardprecompiled headername "stdafx.h". During early development, what became MFC was called "Application Framework Extensions" and abbreviated "Afx". The name Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) was adopted too late in the release cycle to change these references.
MFC 8.0 was released withVisual Studio 2005.MFC 9.0 was released with Visual Studio 2008. On April 7, 2008,Microsoftreleased an update to the MFC classes as an out-of-band update toVisual Studio 2008and MFC 9.[3]The update features new user interface constructs, including theribbonsand associated UIwidgets,fully customizabletoolbars,docking panes which can either be freely floated or docked to any side anddocument tabs.[4]
MFC was initially a feature of the commercial versions of Visual Studio. As such, it is not included in the freewareVisual C++ Express.[5]TheCommunity edition of Visual Studio,introduced in 2014, however, includes MFC.
Object Windows Library(OWL), designed for use with Borland'sTurbo C++compiler, was a competing product introduced byBorlandaround the same time. Eventually, Borland discontinued OWL development and licensed the distribution of the MFC headers, libraries and DLLs from Microsoft[6]for a short time, though it never offered fully integrated support for MFC. Borland later releasedVisual Component Libraryto replace the OWL framework.
Features[edit]
This sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(November 2011) |
MFC is a library thatwrapsportions of the Windows API in C++classes,including functionality that enables them to use a defaultapplication framework.Classes are defined for many of thehandle-managed Windows objects and also for predefined windows and common controls.
At the time of its introduction, MFC provided C++macrosfor Windows message-handling (via Message Maps[7]),exceptions,run-time type identification(RTTI),serializationand dynamic class instantiation. The macros for message-handling aimed to reduce memory consumption by avoiding gratuitousvirtual tableuse and also to provide a more concrete structure for various Visual C++-supplied tools to edit and manipulate code without parsing the full language. The message-handling macros replaced thevirtual functionmechanism provided by C++.
The macros for serialization, exceptions, and RTTI predated availability of these features in Microsoft C++ by a number of years.32-bitversions of MFC, forWindows NT 3.1and later Windows operating systems, used compilers that implemented the language features and updated the macros to simply wrap the language features instead of providing customized implementations, realizing upward compatibility.
The MFC ribbon resource editor allows the developer to design the ribbon graphically instead of having to use theXML-based declarative markup like the RibbonXAPI.Optionally, ribbon components may be programmed directly by calling a new set of ribbon class methods. The developer may mix graphical and programmatic ribbon development as is convenient. The MFC application wizard has also been upgraded to support the new features, including a check-box to select whether the application will use the ribbon or the docking panes. The new functionality is provided in new classes so that old applications still continue to run.[4]This update builds on top ofBCGSoft’sBCGControlBarLibrary Professional Edition.[8]Microsoft has imposed additional licensing requirements on users of the ribbons.[9]These include a requirement to adhere to Microsoft UI Design Guidelines, and an anti-competition clause prohibiting the use of the UI in applications which compete withMicrosoft Office.
MFC can be used by linking astatic libraryor by adding the MFCDLL.
Versions[edit]
Product | Library | Version | Release date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Version | |||
Microsoft C/C++ 7.0 | mafxcw.lib | MFC 1.0 | 1992 | |
Microsoft Visual C++ 1.0 | Visual C++ 1.0 | mfc200.dll | MFC 2.0 | |
Visual C++ 1.5 | mfc250.dll | MFC 2.5 | ||
Visual C++ 1.51 | mfc250.dll | MFC 2.51 | ||
Visual C++ 1.52c | mfc250.dll | MFC 2.5 (Last development platform forWindows 3.x) | ||
Microsoft Visual C++ 2.0 | Visual C++ 2.0 | mfc30.dll | MFC 3.0 | |
Visual C++ 2.1 | mfc30.dll | MFC 3.1 | ||
Visual C++ 2.2 | mfc30.dll | MFC 3.2 | ||
Microsoft Visual C++ 4.0 | Visual C++ 4.0 | mfc40.dll | MFC 4.0 (mfc40.dll included withWindows 95) | August 1995 |
Visual C++ 4.1 | mfc40.dll | MFC 4.1 | ||
Visual C++ 4.2 | mfc42.dll | MFC 4.2 (mfc42.dll included with theWindows 98original release) | March 1998 | |
eMbedded Visual C++ 3.0 | mfc42.dll | MFC 4.2 | ||
Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0 | Visual C++ 5.0 | mfc42.dll | MFC 4.21 | |
Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 | Visual C++ 6.0 | mfc42.dll | MFC 6.0 | 1998 |
eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0 | mfcce400.dll | MFC 6.0 | ||
Microsoft Visual C++.NET 2002 | Visual C++.NET 2002 (Visual C++ 7.0) | mfc70.dll | MFC 7.0 | February 13, 2002 |
Microsoft Visual C++.NET 2003 | Visual C++.NET 2003 (Visual C++ 7.1) | mfc71.dll | MFC 7.1 | April 24, 2003 |
Visual C++.NET 2003 + MS11-025 (KB2465373)[10] | MFC 7.10.6119.0 | April 12, 2011 | ||
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 | Visual C++ 2005 (Visual C++ 8.0) | mfc80.dll | 8.0.50727.42 | April 10, 2006 |
Visual C++ 2005 SP1 | 8.0.50727.762 | August 27, 2007 | ||
Visual C++ 2005 SP1 + MS09-035 (KB973544)[11][12] | 8.0.50727.4053 | July 28, 2009 | ||
Visual C++ 2005 SP1 + MS11-025 (KB2467175)[10] | 8.0.50727.5592 | April 12, 2011 | ||
Visual C++ 2005 SP1 + MS11-025 (KB2538242)[10][13] | 8.0.50727.6195 (included in redist 8.0.61000/8.0.61001[14]) | June 14, 2011 | ||
Visual C++ 2005 SP1 + MS11-025 (KB2643995)[15][16] | 8.0.50727.6229 | 2021-01-25? | ||
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 | Visual C++ 2008 (Visual C++ 9.0) | mfc90.dll | 9.0.21022.8 | November 19, 2007 |
Visual C++ 2008 + MS09-035 (KB973551)[11][12] | 9.0.21022.218 | July 28, 2009 | ||
Visual C++ 2008 with Feature Pack | 9.0.30411 | April 22, 2008 | ||
Visual C++ 2008 SP1 | 9.0.30729.1 | August 11, 2008 | ||
Visual C++ 2008 SP1 + MS09-035 (KB973552)[11][12] | 9.0.30729.4148 | July 28, 2009 | ||
Visual C++ 2008 SP1 + MS11-025 (KB2467174)[10] | 9.0.30729.5570 | April 12, 2011 | ||
Visual C++ 2008 SP1 + MS11-025 (KB2538243)[10] | 9.0.30729.6161 (installer has version 9.0.30729.5677) | June 14, 2011 | ||
Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 | Visual C++ 2010 (Visual C++ 10.0) | mfc100.dll | 10.0.30319.1 | April 12, 2010[17] |
Visual C++ 2010 + MS11-025 (KB2467173)[10] | 10.0.30319.415 | April 12, 2011 | ||
Visual C++ 2010 SP1 | 10.0.40219.1 | March 10, 2011 | ||
Visual C++ 2010 SP1 + MS11-025 (KB2565063)[10] | 10.0.40219.325 | August 9, 2011 | ||
Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 | Visual C++ 2012 (Visual C++ 11.0) | mfc110.dll | 11.0.50727.1 | September 12, 2012 |
Visual C++ 2012 Update 1 | 11.0.51106.1 | November 26, 2012 | ||
Visual C++ 2012 Update 3 | 11.0.60610.1 | June 26, 2013 | ||
Visual C++ 2012 Update 4 | 11.0.61030.0 | November 13, 2013 | ||
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 | Visual C++ 2013 (Visual C++ 12.0) | mfc120.dll | 12.0.21005.1 | October 17, 2013 |
Visual C++ 2013 Update 2 | 12.0.30501.0 | May 12, 2014 | ||
Visual C++ 2013 Update 5 + KB3138367 | 12.0.40649.5 | February 2016?[18][16] | ||
Visual C++ 2013 Update 5 + KB3179560 | 12.0.40660.0 | July 8, 2016[19] | ||
Visual C++ 2013 Update 5 + KB4032938 | 12.0.40664.0 | July 18, 2017[20] | ||
Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 | Visual C++ 2015 (Visual C++ 14.0) | mfc140.dll | 14.0.23026.0 | July 20, 2015 |
Visual C++ 2015 Update 1 | 14.0.23506.0 | November 30, 2015[21] | ||
Visual C++ 2015 Update 2 | 14.0.23918.0 | March 30, 2016[22] | ||
Visual C++ 2015 Update 3 | 14.0.24210.0 | June 27, 2016[23] | ||
Visual C++ 2015 Update 3 | 14.0.24212.0 | August 18, 2016 | ||
Visual C++ 2015 Update 3 + KB3165756 | 14.0.24215.1 | September 15, 2016[24] | ||
Visual C++ 2015 Update 3 | 14.0.24516.0 | October 23, 2021 | ||
Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 | Visual C++ 15.0 | mfc140.dll | 14.10.25008.0 | March 7, 2017 |
Visual C++ 15.1? | 14.10.25017.0 | April 5, 2017? | ||
Visual C++ 15.2 | 14.11.25325.0 | May 10, 2017 | ||
Visual C++ 15.4 | 14.12.25810.0 | October 9, 2017 | ||
Visual C++ 15.6 | 14.13.26020.0 | March 5, 2018 | ||
Visual C++ 15.7 | 14.14.26405.0 | May 7, 2018 | ||
Visual C++ 15.7.3? | 14.14.26429.4 | May 31, 2018 | ||
Visual C++ 15.8 | 14.15.26706.0 | August 14, 2018 | ||
Visual C++ 15.9 | 14.16.27012.6 | November 13, 2018 | ||
Visual C++ 15.9.5 | 14.16.27024.1 | January 8, 2019 | ||
Visual C++ 15.9.6 | 14.16.27026.1 | January 24, 2019 | ||
Visual C++ 15.9.9 | 14.16.27027.1 | March 12, 2019 | ||
Visual C++ 15.9.15 | 14.16.27033.0 | August 13, 2019 | ||
Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 | Visual C++ 16.0.0 | mfc140.dll | 14.20.27508.1 | April 2, 2019? |
Visual C++ 16.1.0 | 14.21.27702.2 | May 21, 2019 | ||
Visual C++ 16.2.0 | 14.22.27821.0 | July 24, 2019 | ||
Visual C++ 16.3.0 | 14.23.27820.0 | September 23, 2019 | ||
Visual C++ 16.4.0 | 14.24.28127.4 | December 3, 2019 | ||
Visual C++ 16.5.0 | 14.25.28508.3 | March 16, 2020 | ||
Visual C++ 16.6.0 | 14.26.28720.3 | May 19, 2020 | ||
Visual C++ 16.6.3 | 14.26.28808.1 | June 30, 2020 | ||
Visual C++ 16.7.0 | 14.27.29016.0 | August 5, 2020 | ||
Visual C++ 16.7.5 | 14.27.29112.0 | September 29, 2020 | ||
Visual C++ 16.7.8 | 14.27.29114.0[note 1] | November 10, 2020 | ||
Visual C++ 16.8.0 | 14.28.29325.2 | November 10, 2020 | ||
Visual C++ 16.8.2 | 14.28.29334.0 | November 19, 2020 | ||
Visual C++ 16.9.0 | 14.28.29910.0 | March 2, 2021 | ||
Visual C++ 16.9.2 | 14.28.29913.0 | March 16, 2021 | ||
Visual C++ 16.9.4 | 14.28.29914.0 | April 13, 2021 | ||
Visual C++ 16.10.0 | 14.29.30037.0 | May 25, 2021 | ||
Visual C++ 16.10.2 | 14.29.30038.0 | June 15, 2021 | ||
Visual C++ 16.10.4 | 14.29.30040.0 | July 20, 2021 | ||
Visual C++ 16.11.0 | 14.29.30133.0 | August 10, 2021 | ||
Visual C++ 16.11.4 | 14.29.30135.0 | October 5, 2021 | ||
Visual C++ 16.11.9 | 14.29.30139.0 | January 11, 2022 | ||
Visual C++ 16.11.32 | 14.29.30153.0 | November 14, 2023 | ||
Microsoft Visual C++ 2022 | Visual C++ 17.0.0RC | mfc140.dll | 14.30.30704.0 | October 13, 2021 |
Visual C++ 17.0.5 | 14.31.30708.0 | January 14, 2022 | ||
Visual C++ 17.1.0 | 14.31.30818.0 | October 27, 2021 | ||
Visual C++ 17.1.0 | 14.31.30919.0 | December 23, 2021 | ||
Visual C++ 17.1.0 | 14.31.31005.0 | January 26, 2022 | ||
Visual C++ 17.1.0 | 14.31.31103.0 | January 26, 2022 | ||
Visual C++ 17.2.0 | 14.32.31302.0 | March 17, 2022 | ||
Visual C++ 17.2.0 | 14.32.31326.0 | April 9, 2022 | ||
Visual C++ 17.2.5 | 14.32.31332.0 | July 1, 2022 | ||
Visual C++ 17.4.0 | 14.34.31931.0 | November 9, 2022 | ||
Visual C++ 17.4.5 | 14.34.31938.0 | February 14, 2023 | ||
Visual C++ 17.6.0 | 14.36.32532.0 | May 16, 2023 | ||
Visual C++ 17.7.1 | 14.38.32919.0 | August 11, 2023 | ||
Visual C++ 17.8.0 | 14.38.33130.0 | November 15, 2023 | ||
Visual C++ 17.8.6 | 14.38.33135.0 | February 6, 2024 | ||
Visual C++ 17.9.4 | 14.40.33617.1 | March 19, 2024 | ||
Visual C++ 17.9.4 | 14.40.33810.0 | May 1, 2024 |
See also[edit]
- Active Template Library(ATL)
- GLib
- GTK
- gtkmm
- JUCE
- Qt
- Standard Template Library(STL)
- Windows Template Library(WTL)
- WxWidgets
Notes[edit]
- ^Last version of library officially supportingWindows XP.[25]
References[edit]
- ^"Visual Studio 2019 Release Notes".Msdn.microsoft.com.RetrievedJuly 24,2019.
- ^Visual C++ Express Overview
- ^"Visual C++ 2008 Feature Pack shipped".Blogs.msdn.com.RetrievedApril 26,2008.
- ^ab"Quick Tour of New MFC functionality".Blogs.msdn.com.RetrievedSeptember 10,2019.
- ^"Visual Studio Express Edition FAQ".Microsoft.com. Archived fromthe originalon June 11, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 6,2012.
- ^"Microsoft Buys Into Inprise, Settles Disputes".Techweb.com. Archived fromthe originalon October 17, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 6,2012.
- ^Williams, Mickey; David Bennett."Creating Your Own Message Maps".Inform IT.
- ^"MFC Update Powered By BCGSoft".Msdn2.microsoft.com.RetrievedNovember 16,2007.
- ^"Visual C++ 2008 Feature Pack Release Download Page".Microsoft.com.RetrievedMay 16,2008.
- ^abcdefg"MS11-025: Vulnerability in Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC) Library could allow remote code execution: April 12, 2011".Microsoft.com.RetrievedJune 10,2019.
- ^abc"Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-035 - Moderate: Vulnerabilities in Visual Studio Active Template Library Could Allow Remote Code Execution (969706)".Microsoft.com.RetrievedNovember 19,2012.
- ^abc"Protect your computer from the Active Template Library (ATL) security vulnerability".Archived fromthe originalon October 26, 2010.RetrievedOctober 29,2010.
- ^"Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 MFC Security Update".Microsoft.com.RetrievedNovember 19,2012.
- ^"Where can I download Visual C++ Redistributables?".RetrievedJune 10,2019.
- ^"FIX:" HRESULT: 0x80073715 "error when you install an application by using an.msi file if the file is merged with merge modules for the Visual C++ 2005 runtime library".Microsoft.com.January 25, 2021.
- ^abvcredist/source_links/README.md > Source Links Archive
- ^"Visual C++ - Exploring New C++ and MFC Features in Visual Studio 2010".Msdn.microsoft.com.RetrievedNovember 19,2012.
- ^"Update for Visual C++ 2013 and Visual C++ Redistributable Package".Msdn.microsoft.com.RetrievedJanuary 8,2017.
- ^"Update for Visual C++ 2013 and Visual C++ Redistributable Package".Msdn.microsoft.com.RetrievedJanuary 8,2017.
- ^"Update for Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable Package".RetrievedJune 10,2019.
- ^"Visual Studio 2015 Update 1".Msdn.microsoft.com.RetrievedJune 12,2016.
- ^"Visual Studio 2015 Update 2".Msdn.microsoft.com.RetrievedJune 12,2016.
- ^"Visual Studio 2015 Update 3".Msdn.microsoft.com.RetrievedJune 28,2016.
- ^"Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 Update 3 (KB3165756)".Msdn.microsoft.com.RetrievedAugust 28,2016.
- ^C++ binary compatibility between Visual Studio versions
Further reading[edit]
- Prosise, Jeff (1999).Programming Windows with MFC(2 ed.).Microsoft Press.ISBN9781572316959.
- Shepherd, George (1996).MFC Internals(7 ed.).Addison-Wesley.ISBN9780201407211.
- Kruglinski, David (1997).Inside Visual C++(4 ed.).Microsoft Press.ISBN9781572315655.
- Microsoft (1995).Microsoft Visual C++: Programming with MFC(2 ed.).Microsoft Press.ISBN9781556159213.
External links[edit]
- The latest supported Visual C++ downloads- Microsoft
- Where can I download Visual C++ Redistributables?- Microsoft
- MSDN MFC Reference- Microsoft
- MFC: Visual Studio 2005 and Beyond- Microsoft
- An Inside Look At The Next Generation Of Visual C++(covers the major MFC 9 updates) - Microsoft