---
description: "Learn more about: Root Class: CObject"
title: "Root Class: CObject"
ms.date: "11/04/2016"
helpviewer_keywords: ["base classes [MFC], MFC objects", "classes [MFC], MFC base class [MFC]", "root class [MFC]", "MFC, base class"]
ms.assetid: 593706f3-e9e5-435f-815d-e7b5176b2a61
---
# Root Class: CObject

Most of the classes in the Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC) Library are derived from a single base class at the root of the class hierarchy. `CObject` provides a number of useful capabilities to all classes derived from it, with very low overhead. For more information about `CObject` and its capabilities, see [Using CObject](../mfc/using-cobject.md).

[CObject](../mfc/reference/cobject-class.md)<br/>
The ultimate base class of most MFC classes. Supports serializing data and obtaining run-time information about a class.

[CRuntimeClass](../mfc/reference/cruntimeclass-structure.md)<br/>
Structure used to determine the exact class of an object at run time.

## See also

[Class Overview](../mfc/class-library-overview.md)