Lync 2013 SDK general reference

Learn about how you use the Microsoft Lync 2013 SDK to create Microsoft Lync 2013 client conversation window extensions, add Lync features to your existing application, or create a custom client to substitute for a suppressed Lync 2013 user interface.

Conceptual overview topic

Applies to: Lync 2013 | Lync Server 2013

Microsoft Lync 2013 SDK is designed for software developers who are building custom Microsoft Lync 2013 client applications. It's also used to embed client collaboration functionality in line-of-business (LOB) applications that interoperate with Lync 2013 and Microsoft Lync Server 2013. By using the Lync 2013 API, a developer can provide the client features of instant messaging (IM), voice, video, application sharing, and meeting session functionality in a custom client or LOB application.

The Lync SDK general reference provides an overview of the SDK, conceptual discussions about the Lync Controls, and a high-level look at the Lync 2013 API object model. In addition, you'll find useful programming task How to topics that take you step by step through tasks covering the most common Lync development scenarios.

This SDK document starts you with Lync client development. You may find that advanced development scenarios require additional help beyond what is in this document. The Lync Development Center is the best source for how-to information not contained within this SDK. In addition, you benefit from the experiences of other developers in the Lync development community. The development center is the place for the following items:

  • New and updated Lync client sample applications.

  • How-to video content.

  • Lync client development community contributions.

  • Lync client development blog updates.

You can download Microsoft Lync 2013 SDK from the Microsoft Download Center.

In this section

What's new topic

What's new in Lync 2013 SDK
Learn about the new Microsoft Lync 2013 SDK features that give developers the ability to add advanced functionality to their applications.

Get started

Get started with Lync 2013 SDK
Learn how to get started using Microsoft Lync 2013 SDK, the essential features of the SDK, and how you can use those features to make give your application enhanced features that are supported by Microsoft Lync Server 2013.

Core concepts

Core concepts in Lync 2013 SDK
Learn about the concepts for adding Lync features to your application by using Microsoft Lync 2013 SDK.

How to topic

How do I in Lync 2013 SDK
Learn how to add Microsoft Lync 2013 features, such as Lync Controls and enhance presence, and to your application by using the API classes in Microsoft Lync 2013 SDK.

Beyond the basics topic

Beyond the basics in Lync 2013 SDK
Learn about some of the advanced features of Microsoft Lync 2013 SDK that you can use to make your stand-alone Lync 2013 API-enabled application more flexible and robust.

Code sample topic

Code samples: Lync SDK
Learn about the quick start samples and application reference samples that are installed with Microsoft Lync 2013 SDK. The reference samples show how to build an application that implements a complete scenario using combinations of Lync Controls and objects from the Lync 2013 API object model.