The Depths of Windows I/O (Part 1) — Every Read and Write Becomes an IRP: The Big Picture of the I/O System (archived 2026-08-30)

Abstract

Part 1 of a series that explains the Windows I/O system from the ground up. We map out the Object Manager namespace, the three kinds of objects (driver, device, file), the lifecycle of an IRP, and what really happens behind CloseHandle, all with diagrams. Archived version of https://comcomponent.com/en/blog/windows-io-internals-architecture-irp/, as published on 2026-08-30. The live article is maintained and may change after this date. First published 2026-07-29.