Which of the following Windows APIs is used to hide a window?
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Which of the following Windows APIs is used to hide a window?
Show answer & explanation
ShowWindow is the standard Windows API function used to show, hide, or minimize a window by specifying visibility flags (e.g., SW_HIDE, SW_SHOW). EnableWindow controls whether a window accepts user input but does not change visibility. MoveWindow repositions and resizes windows. SetWindowPlacement restores or minimizes windows but is less commonly used for simple hide operations.
Step-by-step Derivation:
The ShowWindow function in Windows API accepts two parameters: HWND (window handle) and nCmdShow (display command). Common flags include:
- SW_HIDE (0): Hides the window
- SW_SHOW (5): Shows the window
- SW_MINIMIZE (6): Minimizes the window
This is the primary and most direct API for controlling window visibility. The other options serve different purposes: EnableWindow disables/enables input handling, MoveWindow changes position/size, and SetWindowPlacement is used with WINDOWPLACEMENT structure for restoration. Therefore, ShowWindow is the correct answer.