Active Template Library

Active Template Library
Developer(s)Microsoft
Written inC++
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows
TypeLibrary or framework
LicenseProprietary

The Active Template Library (ATL) is a set of template-based C++ classes developed by Microsoft, intended to simplify the programming of Component Object Model (COM) objects. The COM support in Microsoft Visual C++ allows developers to create a variety of COM objects, OLE Automation servers, and ActiveX controls.[1][2] ATL includes an object wizard that sets up primary structure of the objects quickly with a minimum of hand coding. On the COM client side ATL provides smart pointers that deal with COM reference counting. The library makes heavy use of the curiously recurring template pattern.

  1. ^ Grimes, Richard (1998). "ATL and COM". ATL COM (1st ed.). Wrox Press. p. 6. ISBN 1-86100-249-1.
  2. ^ Grimes, Richard (1999). "Building and calling a COM object using ATL". Beginning ATL 3 COM Programming (1st ed.). Wrox Press. p. 63. ISBN 978-1-86100-120-7.