What is ArcObjects?
ArcObjects is a library of platform-independent software components, written in C++, that provides services to support GIS applications, either on the desktop in the form of thick and thin clients or on a server for Web and traditional client/server deployments. Because this architecture supports a number of unique ArcGIS products with specialized requirements, all ArcObjects components are designed and built to support a multiuse scenario. Libraries of appropriate ArcObjects are packaged into developer kits for ArcGIS, providing a common developer experience across ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Engine, and ArcGIS Server products.