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A Dynamic Link Library

DLLs are libraries of prewritten code that can be shared by multiple programs. When a program uses a DLL, the operating system links the relevant code so it can be used without the programmer having to worry. DLLs reduce memory usage and improve performance by only loading code into memory once where it can be used by different programs. DLLs also allow developers to take advantage of optimized code rather than rewriting functions, and enable programs to support different hardware through loading device drivers.

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Muhammad Soban Malik
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32 views1 page

A Dynamic Link Library

DLLs are libraries of prewritten code that can be shared by multiple programs. When a program uses a DLL, the operating system links the relevant code so it can be used without the programmer having to worry. DLLs reduce memory usage and improve performance by only loading code into memory once where it can be used by different programs. DLLs also allow developers to take advantage of optimized code rather than rewriting functions, and enable programs to support different hardware through loading device drivers.

Uploaded by

Muhammad Soban Malik
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A dynamic link library (or DLL) is a library of prewritten code that can be

shared by multiple programs. At the time a program using a DLL is loaded or


executed, the relevant DLL is linked in so that the code can be used within the
program. This linking is usually done by the operating system, meaning the
programmer does not have to worry about how it works. The name 'dynamic
link library' is specific to Microsoft's implementation of this concept in
Windows, but other operating systems have similar implementations.

A benefit of this dynamic linking is that the code from the DLL only needs to
be loaded into memory once, and then it can be used by multiple different
programs. DLLs reduce duplication within main memory, provide more space,
and reduce the amount of swapping in and out required, all of which results in
faster execution.

Since the routines within the DLL are prewritten, they have been carefully
debugged and optimised. This means that a developer can take advantage of
efficient code to perform a function, rather than each programmer having to
rewrite that code themself from scratch.

DLLs make it possible for a program to support multiple, different types of


hardware. For example, when a program makes a call to print a document, a
DLL might be used to load in the relevant drivers for the specific printer you
own, so that the print instruction can be translated into commands that your
printer can understand.

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