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Dynamic Link Library (DLL)

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Definition of Dynamic Link Library (DLL)

A dynamic link library (DLL) is a set of small programs that can be called by larger programs running on the computer.

A DLL file contains code and data that can be used by multiple programs at the same time, promoting code reuse and modularization. It allows the larger program to communicate with a specific device such as a scanner or printer, making it easier for developers to use common libraries across multiple applications. Dynamic link libraries are commonly used in Windows-based software applications where they are often referred to as DLL files.


How does a dynamic link library work?

When a program is run, it must be compiled from its source code, which is human-readable code that the programmer writes. This is transformed into an executable file, which is binary code or machine code that the computer can read. During this process, multiple files are linked together to create one executable file. There are two types of linking - static and dynamic - and two types of corresponding link libraries:

  1. Static links: These are linked earlier in the process and are embedded into the executable. Static libraries are linked to the executable when it is compiled.
  2. Dynamic links: DLLs contain files that a program links to; these libraries already exist on computers and need not be written into individual executables (they just link). When running an application that uses DLLs, they must first be mapped into virtual memory where programs can access them at runtime or load time via a dynamically linked program's small bit of code that maps them into virtual addresses (address space) as different processes run on computers with Windows operating systems using Microsoft languages such as C++ or Visual Basic.


Examples of dynamic link libraries

  1. Libraries.dll: Libraries.dll is an example of a dynamic link library (DLL) that is used in Microsoft Windows. It contains code and data that can be used by multiple programs at the same time, promoting code reuse and modularization. Libraries.dll is often referred to as a "shared library" because it can be accessed by multiple programs simultaneously without causing conflicts or errors in the system.
  2. Msvcrt.dll: Msvcrt.dll is a dynamic link library (DLL) that is used by Windows applications to run properly. It is located under the operating system's System32 directory and is used by many different executables and programs, such as Notepad, WordPad, and Paint. Msvcrt.dll provides functions related to standard C runtime library functions (such as printf()).
  3. Kernel: A kernel dynamic link library (DLL) is a module that contains functions (called exported functions or exports) that can be used by another program (such as an executable). An executable can use the functions implemented in a DLL by importing it from the DLL. Windows operating system contains many DLLs that export various Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for processes to interact with the file system, process registry network, and GUI. For example, Kernel32.dll is an operating system DLL located in the C:\Windows\System32 directory which exports functions such as CreateFile used to create or open files.
  4. dll: A dynamic link library (DLL) is a type of file format created by Microsoft to pack libraries in an easily shareable and reusable format. DLL files generally have the .dll file extension, but can also have the extensions .ocx and .drv. These files contain application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable MIME or internet media type information. A dynamic link library (DLL) is a type of shared library that allows multiple applications to use the same code. DLLs are used on the Microsoft platforms, such as Windows, to pack libraries in an easily shareable format. They typically have file extensions such as .dll or .ocx and have an application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable MIME type or internet media type. Examples of DLLs include system components like drivers and programs like Adobe Reader or Firefox which rely on them for functionality. Examples of DLLs include system components such as Windows API libraries, multimedia codecs such as those used for video playback or music CDs, third-party software like Adobe Reader or Skype which require plugins to run properly on Windows platforms, etc.
  5. NTDLL.dll: NTDLL.dll is a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) used by Windows platforms to provide support for applications and executables.

[Explanation]The NTDLL.dll library provides essential functions, such as memory management, thread creation and termination, loading of dynamic link libraries (DLs), and error handling. It is also responsible for providing access to system resources like files, registry keys, etc., as well as inter-process communication (IPC). NTDLL.dll can be found under the operating system's System32 directory like C:\Windows\System32 .

  1. OLE: OLE stands for Object Linking and Embedding, and it is a technology that allows data to be linked, shared, and reused across different applications. OLE allows developers to create dynamic link libraries (DLLs), which are small pieces of code that contain instructions for specific tasks. DLLs can be used by multiple programs simultaneously since they exist as separate files on the computer. They are often used to share resources such as images or documents between programs without having to manually transfer them each time they are needed.
  2. System.dll: Dynamic link libraries (DLLs) are computer files used to provide shared resources, such as functions and data structures, to multiple programs. For example, the System.dll DLL is used by Windows applications to run properly. It is located under the operating system's System32 directory and provides resources such as APIs (application programming interfaces) and services for developers. Other examples of DLLs include mf42u.dll (Microsoft Foundation Class library), msvcrt.dll (Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library), msvcp100.dll (Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Runtime Library), and many more.
  3. User: A user dynamic link library (DLL) is a type of file that contains code or resources that can be used by multiple programs. DLLs are often used to share common codes or resources between different programs, reducing development time and cost. They can also contain data, such as images or sounds, which can be accessed by any program using the DLL. Examples of DLLs include Microsoft .NET Framework libraries and Java Class libraries.
  4. .NET Framework: Some examples of .NET Framework dynamic link libraries include: msf42u.dll, mscorwks.dll, clr.dll, and vbc.exe. msf42u.dll is a Microsoft Foundation Class library used by Windows applications to run properly. mscorwks.dll is the common language runtime (CLR) library that provides support for managed code execution and memory management in Windows platforms like Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. clr.dll is the core component of the CLR that provides base class libraries for developers to build applications using .NET languages such as C# or VB.NET. Finally, vbc.exe is Visual Basic Compiler that converts Visual Basic source code into machine-independent bytecode so it can be executed by the CLR on any supported platform without changes in syntax or behavior.
  5. Java Runtime Environment: The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) is a software platform developed by Oracle Corporation that provides an environment for running Java applications. It includes a virtual machine, class libraries, and tools such as the Java compiler. Dynamic link libraries (DLLs) are files containing code that can be dynamically linked to other programs. They are used in many modern programming languages such as C, C++, and Delphi to enable modularity and reuse of code between different programs or projects. Some examples of DLLs in the JRE include: Class Libraries – These provide classes that can be used by programmers when developing applications in Java. Imaging Libraries – These provide image processing capabilities for manipulating images in different formats like JPEG or PNG. Native Method Libraries – These allow developers to access native functions on specific platforms like Windows or OS X . Toolkits – The JDK comes with several toolkits including AWT (Abstract Window Toolkit), Swing (Java GUI Library), JNDI (Java Naming and Directory Interface), etcetera which helps developers create GUI applications faster with fewer lines of code than they would need if they were coding everything from scratch themselves
  6. Adobe Reader.dll: Adobe Reader.dll is a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) created by Adobe for the Microsoft platforms. It is used to pack libraries in an easily shareable format, and has the file extension .dll. Examples of DLLs include Adobe Reader, Flash Player, and Microsoft Office components such as Excel or Word Automation Services.
  7. FlashPlayerPlugin.dll: A dynamic link library, also known as DLL, is a type of shared library created for use on Microsoft platforms. It is used to pack libraries in an easily shareable format and has the file extension *.dll.

The FlashPlayerPlugin.dll example is a common DLL file that is used by Adobe Flash Player to provide support for web content. This DLL file allows users to view Flash content on their computers without having to download and install the entire program itself. It provides access to features such as video streaming and interactive games while reducing disk space usage since only one file needs to be installed instead of multiple programs.

  1. adobe.dll: Adobe Dynamic Link Library (DLL) is a library file used by Adobe programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. It allows these programs to communicate with each other and run more efficiently. DLL files can be found in the Program Files directory of your computer under the #*name of “Adobe” or “Adobelib”. Examples include:
    • msf42u.dll - Microsoft Foundation Class Library
    • acroex32.dll - Acrobat Distiller Extensions 32-bit
    • intellishell32.dll - IntelliShell Extension Dll for 32-bit versions of Windows Vista & 7
    • dvx_commonlib_d2d1_03052010-0102-windows-xp-servicepack3x86/dvxcommonlibd2d1_03052010-0102/./CommonImgLibDll/CommonImgLibDll64/./CommonImgLibDll64/.\..\..\Release\CommonImgLibDll64\.pdb - Common Image Library 64 bit version
  2. wininet.dll: msf42u.dll is an example of a dynamic link library (DLL) for the Windows Internet API. It is used by Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 heavily and is located under the operating system System32 directory like C:\Windows\System32 .

DLLs are files that contain code or data that can be shared between different programs or applications. They are used to simplify software development by allowing developers to reuse code instead of having to write it from scratch each time. DLLs also help reduce memory usage since they only need to be loaded once instead of multiple times when multiple programs use them simultaneously.

  1. cdda.dll: The cdda.dll dynamic link library is a Windows DLL (Visual C++) used to access CD-ROM drives.

The cdda.dll dynamic link library allows software programmers to interact with CD-ROM drives using code written in Visual C++. It provides functions and subroutines that can be used to read, write and control data on CDs and DVDs. The DLL may also provide access to additional features such as audio playback or recording features for multimedia applications, among others.

  1. winmm.dll: The winmm.dll dynamic link library is a library file used by Windows platforms and operating systems to support the execution of applications and programs. Winmm.dll is part of the Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC) library which provides developers with basic functionality such as window management, event handling, and data manipulation capabilities. Winmm.dll is located under the operating system's System32 directory and its main purpose is to allow Windows applications to run properly on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.
  2. nvidia.dll: The nvidia.dll dynamic link library is a file format created to pack libraries in an easily shareable and useable format. It has the file extension '.dll' and is used in Microsoft platforms. The nvidia.dll dynamic link library is used to provide access to hardware-accelerated graphics, video encoding/decoding, 3D rendering, audio processing, and multi-monitor support on Windows systems. It also provides API (Application Programming Interface) functions for developers to utilize when creating applications or games that require high-performance graphics capabilities.
  3. comdlg: Dynamic link libraries, or DLLs, are shared libraries created by Microsoft to easily share and useable the format. Comdlg is an example of a DLL file that has the *.dll file extension and an application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable MIME internet media type. Comdlg is used by Windows applications for displaying common dialogs such as Open, Save As, and Print dialogs in a user-friendly manner.


See Also

Computer Program