EntityQ380319· pop 36· linked from 592 articles

dynamic-link library

Microsoft's implementation of the shared library concept in Windows and OS/2

Key facts

Filename extension: .dll
Internet media type: application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable
Uniform type identifier uti: com.microsoft.windows-dynamic-link-library
Magic number: 4D 5A ( MZ in ASCII )
Developed by: Microsoft
Container for: Shared library

via Wikipedia infobox

Article

A dynamic-link library (DLL) is a shared library in the Microsoft Windows or OS/2 operating system. A DLL can contain executable code (functions), data, and resources.

A DLL file often has file extension .dll even though this is not required. The extension is sometimes used to describe the content of the file. For example, .ocx is a common extension for an ActiveX control and .drv for a legacy (16-bit) device driver.