The Microsoft Information Protection (MIP) SDK C wrapper exposes MIP's protection and labeling capabilities through a flat C ABI suitable for binding into other languages. This site is the API reference for the C surface; for narrative documentation, samples, and quickstarts see the conceptual docs on Microsoft Learn.

‍Note — the C wrapper covers the Protection and Policy / labeling APIs. If you need the File API (apply labels and protection to files like .docx, .pdf, .pptx), use the C++ reference instead.

Get started

1. Set up your dev environment

Set up and configure the MIP SDK — prerequisites, Entra ID app registration, and installing the SDK.
Version release history — supported versions, breaking changes, and the archived reference for every prior release.
Ask a question on Microsoft Q&A — the supported channel for developer questions.

2. Try a C++ quickstart

The C wrapper doesn't have language-specific quickstarts yet; the C++ ones show the same concepts (client initialization, delegates, profile/engine bring-up) that map directly onto the C surface:

Initialize a MIP C++ client — client bring-up walkthrough.

3. Read a working sample

Runnable C++ samples, one per API surface (the C wrapper types have _cc.h suffixes and mirror the C++ classes 1:1):

Protection API — Azure-Samples/mipsdk-protectionapi-cpp-sample-basic — obtain a publishing license, encrypt and decrypt a buffer.
Policy API — Azure-Samples/MipSDK-Policy-Cpp-Sample — enumerate labels, compute actions, apply policy decisions.

API by area

This page is curated; the Files tab indexes every header.

Context

Header	What it does
`mip_context_cc.h`	Process-wide MIP context (create/release).
`application_info_cc.h`	Identifies your application to MIP.
`identity_cc.h`	Represents the user identity.
`telemetry_configuration_cc.h`	Telemetry configuration.
`flighting_feature_cc.h`	Feature flags.

Protection API

Encrypt, decrypt, and manage Use Licenses directly.

Header	What it does
`protection/protection_profile_cc.h` / `protection/protection_engine_cc.h`	Profile/engine entry points.
`protection/protection_handler_cc.h`	Encrypt/decrypt; manage rights and licenses.
`protection_descriptor_cc.h` / `protection_descriptor_builder_cc.h`	Describe protection (template, ad-hoc, do-not-forward).
`protection/template_descriptor_cc.h`	Inspect an RMS template.
`protection/license_info_cc.h` / `protection/delegation_license_cc.h`	Inspect and request licenses.
`protection/protection_crypto_types_cc.h`	Crypto mode constants.
`protection/user_rights_roles_cc.h`	Rights and role assignments.

Labels & Policy

Drive the labeling experience.

Header	What it does
`upe/policy_profile_cc.h` / `upe/policy_engine_cc.h`	Profile/engine entry points.
`upe/policy_handler_cc.h`	Per-document policy decisions.
`upe/label_cc.h`	A sensitivity label and its metadata.
`upe/content_label_cc.h`	The label currently applied to content.
`upe/document_state_cc.h` / `upe/application_action_state_cc.h`	Inputs supplied to the policy engine.
`upe/sensitivity_type_cc.h`	Classification sensitivity types.
`upe/metadata_dictionary_cc.h`	Document metadata.

Actions

policy_handler_cc.h returns actions describing what your app should do.

Header	When emitted
`upe/action_cc.h` / `upe/action_result_cc.h`	Action base type and result.
`upe/justify_action_cc.h`	Prompt the user for justification.
`upe/metadata_action_cc.h`	Add or remove document metadata.
`upe/protect_by_template_action_cc.h` / `upe/protect_adhoc_action_cc.h` / `upe/protect_do_not_forward_action_cc.h`	Apply protection.
`upe/add_watermark_action_cc.h` / `upe/add_content_header_action_cc.h` / `upe/add_content_footer_action_cc.h`	Apply visual marking.
`upe/remove_protection_action_cc.h` / `upe/remove_watermark_action_cc.h` / `upe/remove_content_header_action_cc.h` / `upe/remove_content_footer_action_cc.h`	Remove existing markings/protection.
`upe/custom_action_cc.h`	Tenant-defined custom action.

Delegates & callbacks

Implement these to extend or override SDK behavior.

Header	Customizes
`auth_callback_cc.h`	Authentication / token acquisition.
`consent_callback_cc.h`	User consent prompts.
`http_delegate_cc.h`	HTTP transport.
`logger_delegate_cc.h`	Log routing.
`task_dispatcher_delegate_cc.h`	Background task scheduling.

Errors & common types

Header	Purpose
`error_cc.h`	Error codes and messages.
`result_cc.h`	Result envelope returned by SDK functions.
`common_types_cc.h`	Shared enums and structs.
`string_list_cc.h` / `dictionary_cc.h`	Utility containers.
`stream_cc.h` / `editable_stream_cc.h`	Byte streams.
`dynamic_watermark_cc.h`	Watermark configuration.
`mip_macros_cc.h`	Compile-time macros.

Generated by Doxygen from the SDK headers. To edit this overview, change doxygen/mainpage-c.md in the mip-sdk-docs-gen repo.