Managed-Unmanaged Transitions

Abstract

In Chapter 1, I explained that calling functions across interoperability boundaries can be as easy as calling native functions from native code. Normal method declarations are sufficient for both directions of interoperability. You can simply rely on the C++/CLI compiler to handle all kinds of method calls with any kind of native arguments in the right way. These method calls include the following scenarios:

• Managed code calling global or static functions compiled to native code

• Native code calling global or static functions compiled to managed code

• Managed code calling member functions of C++ classes that are compiled to native code

• Native code calling member functions of C++ classes that are compiled to managed code

• Managed code calling native functions via function pointers

• Native code calling managed functions via function pointers

• Managed code calling native virtual functions

• Native code calling managed virtual functions