DirectX Graphics Infrastructure, or DXGI, is a component of the Windows Vista operating system that is used by both Direct3D (10.1) and the OpenGL standard to provide mapping between the APIs and the graphics kernel. The graphics kernel then interfaces with the Windows Display Driver Module driver, running in user-mode. DXGI offers a number of objects to handle multiple tasks. Factor (IDXGIFactory interface) provides methods for enumerating hardware adapters and creating software adapters for example. The Adapter object (IDCGIAdapter interface) provides methods for enumerating outputs. The Output object (IDXGIOutput interface) provides methods for managing properties of display monitors.
The Swap Chain object (IDCGISwapChain interface) aids with presentation and animation of rendered frames management. The Device object (DXGIDevice interface) is implemented by the products device object. The Resource object (IDXGIResource interface) is implemented by resources.
Other DirectX related glossary:
DirectDraw
Direct2D
Direct3D
DXGI
DirectInput
DirectPlay
DirectPlay Voice
DirectSound
DirectSound3D
DirectMusic
DirectX Audio
DirectX Media
DxDiag
DirectX Media Objects
DirectSetup
XAudio2
