Win32PerfFormattedData

Win32PerfFormattedData is a namespace used by Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) to expose real‑time performance data from a system. The namespace contains a series of classes whose names begin with Win32_PerfFormattedData_ followed by the name of a collector set or performance object. For example, Win32_PerfFormattedData_PerfOS_Processor holds formatted data for processor performance counters, while Win32_PerfFormattedData_PerfDisk_LogicalDisk stores data for logical disk counters.

Each class represents a snapshot of performance counters that are formatted for easy consumption by client applications. The counters are presented in their current values, rather than raw counter values that require further processing. This makes Win32PerfFormattedData ideal for monitoring tools, scripts, and dashboards that need to display instantaneous metrics such as CPU utilization, memory usage, or network traffic.

To query Win32PerfFormattedData through WMI, a client typically uses a select statement such as:

SELECT * FROM Win32_PerfFormattedData_PerfOS_Processor WHERE Name = "_Total".

The query returns an object with properties corresponding to the available counters, for example, PercentProcessorTime, Throttling, and InterruptsPersec.

Because Win32PerfFormattedData classes expose only formatted values, they are read‑only. They cannot be used to set or modify performance counters. The data is refreshed each time a query is executed, so rapid polling can reveal trends over time. Access to the namespace requires appropriate permissions; standard users may view most counters, while detailed counters may require administrative rights.

Developers and system administrators use the Win32PerfFormattedData namespace to build custom monitoring solutions, embed performance checks in scripts, or integrate with external tools like PowerShell, Python, or .NET applications. The namespace provides a Windows‑native method to retrieve up‑to‑date performance information in a consistent and well‑documented format.