[ GLOSSARY DEFINITION ]
Gaming
Graphics API
The software interface games/apps use to talk to the GPU (DirectX, Vulkan, Metal, OpenCL).
Also known as:
DirectX
Vulkan
Metal
OpenCL
DirectX 12
Full Definition & Technical Explanation
Graphics APIs let software drive the GPU. DirectX (Windows/Xbox), Vulkan (cross-platform), Metal (Apple), and OpenCL (compute) all appear as API: Metal / OpenCL in specs.
API support affects game compatibility and performance. Ray tracing needs modern APIs (DX12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.3+).
Where Graphics API Matters
Graphics Cards
Smartphones
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Graphics API?
The software interface games/apps use to talk to the GPU (DirectX, Vulkan, Metal, OpenCL).
What terms are related to Graphics API?
Related Gaming terms include GPU, Ray Tracing, FPS.
Related Technical Terms
GPU
Specialized chip for rendering, gaming, and image processing — key to gaming scores.
Performance
Ray Tracing
Hardware-accelerated realistic lighting and reflections in games, measured on DeviceBenchmark's Gam…
Gaming
FPS
How many frames a device renders per second; higher FPS means smoother games and video.
Gaming