# Win32

The term Win32 is used in various contexts\.

By Win32 a family of 32\-bit Windows operating systems for the architecture [x86](https://pvs-studio.com/en/blog/terms/0060/) is understood\.

When one speaks about a Win32\-application, you should understand that one means a 32\-bit program to be executed in the 32\-bit environment and that has the [ILP32](https://pvs-studio.com/en/blog/terms/0018/) [data model](https://pvs-studio.com/en/blog/terms/0012/)\.

By Win32 a 32\-bit API is also understood which is provided by the 32\-bit Windows operating system\.

There is a subsystem [WoW64](https://pvs-studio.com/en/blog/terms/0056/) on new 64\-bit Windows systems to provide compatibility with obsolete 32\-bit applications\. The system translates the calls of the 32\-bit API into the calls of the 64\-bit API, redirects requests when working with the register and files and performs some other functions\.

## References

1. Wikipedia\. [Windows API](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_API)\.
1. Migrate Using Win32/Win64\. [Chapter 1: Introduction to Win32/Win64](https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb496995.aspx)\.
1. 64\-bit Lessons\. Lesson 2\. [Support of 32\-bit applications in the 64\-bit Windows environment](https://pvs-studio.com/en/blog/lessons/0002/)\.