IMPORTANT NOTE: Please make sure that you find and read the html documentation that comes with the library (open "docs/index.html") or use the link below. You will need to edit the MAX72xx.h file to configure the type of matrix you are using. This is the most asked support question so avoid frustration and READ THE MANUAL in the docs subfolder.
The library implements functions that allow the MAX72xx to be used for LED matrices (64 individual LEDs), allowing the programmer to use the LED matrix as a pixel device, displaying graphics elements much like any other pixel addressable display.
In this scenario, it is convenient to abstract out the concept of the hardware device and create a uniform and consistent pixel address space, with the libraries determining device and device-element address. Similarly, control of the devices is uniform and abstracted to a system level.
The library still retains flexibility for device level control, should the developer require, through the use of overloaded class methods.