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DOS Protected Mode Interface
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Computing/Kghtm9fX">computing</a>, the DOS Protected Mode Interface (DPMI) is a specification introduced in 1989 which allows a <a href="/facts/DOS/sWwDXNmX">DOS</a> program to run in <a href="/facts/Protected_mode/y5u3Gwqq">protected mode</a>, giving access to many features of the new PC processors of the time not available in <a href="/facts/Real_mode/wfU8vfjn">real mode</a>. It was initially developed by <a href="/facts/Microsoft/nGIDDXdx">Microsoft</a> for <a href="/facts/Windows_3.0/AmCtP94m">Windows 3.0</a>, although Microsoft later turned control of the specification over to an industry committee with open membership. Almost all modern <a href="/facts/DOS_extender/fhzoAhzm">DOS extenders</a> are based on DPMI and allow DOS programs to address all memory available in the PC and to run in protected mode (mostly in <a href="/facts/Ring_(computer_security)/27y4kjHs">ring</a> 3, least privileged). </p>