[ 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+).
Related Technical Terms
FPS
How many frames a device renders per second; higher FPS means smoother games and video.
Gaming
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 CompareTech's Gaming …
Gaming