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What is Dynamic-link library (DLL)?

Dynamic-link library (DLL): Here, we are going to learn about the Dynamic-link library, its structure, benefits, etc.
Submitted by Anushree Goswami, on January 25, 2021

DLL: Dynamic-link library

DLL is an abbreviation of "Dynamic-link library". It is an idea of the shared library, which was put down into operation by Microsoft in the Microsoft Windows and OS/2 operating systems. The file formats supported in the case of DLLs are Portable Executable (PE) for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows and New Executable (NE) for 16-bit Windows.

Structure

• The structure of DLL files is arranged into sections in the API of Microsoft Windows.
• These sections consist of their own order of elements.
• Generally, the data sections of a DLL are private in comparison to its code sections.
• DLLs make available a system of the method in support of shared code and data, which enables a developer of shared code and data to advance its range of operations exclusive of the need of applications to be re-linked or re-compiled.

Benefits

• DLL helps in preserving additional memory and also diminishes page switching.
• It helps in saving a lot of disk space, as various applications are capable of sharing a particular copy of the DLL on disk.
• It makes the course of action of growth and expansion, independent, as its degree of coupling is small, which levels the progress of the advancement and the assessment among different types of developer and the development-based business group and association.
• In a DLL, the process of hosting the COM objects is further insubstantial and enables them to share the resources by means of the client progression, which enables COM objects to put into operation controlling potent back-ends to simple GUI front ends comprises Visual Basic and ASP.

Reference: Dynamic-link library

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