Q11509: Definition of Different Types of Libraries in Windows

Article: Q11509
Product(s): Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.1
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kb16bitonly
Last Modified: 12-NOV-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) versions 3.0, 3.1 
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SUMMARY
=======

There are three different types of libraries used in Windows. These three types
of libraries are defined as follows:

1. Object libraries are produced by LIB.EXE, and consist of Intel object code;
  for example, SWLIBC.LIB (the W implies the objects were compiled using
  Windows prolog conventions).

  Object libraries, which are sometimes more accurately called static link
  libraries, are the libraries that contain object code. These libraries are
  used at link time to resolve statically linked calls.

2. DLLs (Dynamic-Link Libraries) are produced by IMPLIB.EXE and LIB.EXE, and
  contain dynamic-link records derived from GDI.DEF, USER.DEF, and KERNEL.DEF.
  They also contain the Windows startup routine, WINSTART.OBJ, and any routines
  necessary to override C run-time functions (for example, calloc and malloc);
  that is, Windows-specific run-time functions.

  NOTE: The term Dynamic-Link Library or DLL is usually used to describe the
  actual Windows executable that implements a particular API.

  The term import library is usually used to describe the product of the IMPLIB
  utility. This library is used to resolve references to DLL exports at the
  time the application is linked.

3. Executable libraries are produced by the Microsoft linker program (LINK.EXE),
  and use the keyword LIBRARY in the .DEF file. They contain sharable Windows
  code, for example, GDI.EXE, USER.EXE, or KERNEL.EXE.

Additional query words: no32bit 3.00 3.10

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Keywords          : kb16bitonly 
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbWin3xSearch kbSDKSearch kbWinSDKSearch kbWinSDK300 kbWinSDK310
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.1

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