Dynamic library

Software library used via dynamic linking A dynamic library is a library that contains functions and data that can be used by a computer program at run-time as loaded from a file separate from the program executable. Dynamic linking or late binding allows for using a dynamic library by linking program library references with the associated objects in the library either at load-time or run-time. At program build-time, the linker records what library objects the program uses. When the program is run, a dynamic linker or linking loader associates program library references with the associated objects in the library. A dynamic library can be linked at build-time to a stub for each library resource that is resolved at run-time. Alternatively, a dynamic library can be loaded without linking to stubs. Most modern operating systems use the same format for both a dynamic library and an executable which affords two main advantages: it necessitates only one loader, and it allows an executable file to be used as a shared library. Examples of file formats use for both dynamic library and executable files include ELF, Mach-O, and PE. A dynamic library is called by different names in different co