Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) is a communication protocol that allows Windows applications to share data with each other. It was first introduced in the 1980s and was a popular way to exchange data between applications before the introduction of newer technologies like Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) and Component Object Model (COM).
How Does DDE Work?
DDE works by establishing a conversation between two applications: a client application and a server application. The client application sends a message to the server application requesting data. The server application then responds by sending the requested data back to the client application.
Advantages of DDE
One of the main advantages of DDE is its simplicity. It is relatively easy to implement and doesn’t require a lot of overhead. It can also be used to exchange data between applications that were not specifically designed to work together.
Another advantage of DDE is its real-time data exchange capability. Data can be updated and shared between applications in real-time, making it ideal for applications that require frequent updates.
Disadvantages of DDE
One of the main disadvantages of DDE is its lack of security. DDE does not provide any form of encryption or authentication, which can make it vulnerable to attacks. It also has limited functionality compared to newer technologies like OLE and COM.
Another disadvantage of DDE is its lack of support for Unicode. DDE was designed before Unicode was widely adopted, so it does not support the use of non-Latin characters.
Conclusion
Dynamic Data Exchange is an older communication protocol that allows Windows applications to share data with each other. While it has some advantages, such as simplicity and real-time data exchange, it also has several disadvantages, including limited functionality and lack of security. It has largely been replaced by newer technologies like OLE and COM, which provide more advanced features and better security.
