# Introduction

QMF enhances Qpid Messaging by providing a layer of functionality that makes it easy to implement common management patterns using messaging as the basis for communication. QMF consists of three primary parts:

- A protocol definition defines conventions for the use of message addresses, message headers, and structured message bodies.

- A core QMF engine provides a C++ API and an implementation of a set of protocol handlers for QMF message communication.

- Bindings are provided that wrap the C++ API for use in other languages such as Python, Ruby, and .NET.