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| Filename extension |
.dll |
|---|---|
| Internet media type |
application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable |
| Uniform Type Identifier (UTI) | com.microsoft.windows-dynamic-link-library |
| Magic number | MZ |
| Developed by | Microsoft |
| Container for | Shared library |
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.
A DLL that contains only resources can be called a resource DLL. Examples include an icon library, with common extension .icl, and a font library with common extensions .fon and .fot.[1]
The file format of a DLL is the same as for an executable (a.k.a. EXE). The main difference between a DLL file and an EXE file is that a DLL cannot be run directly since the operating system requires an entry point to start execution. Windows provides a utility program (RUNDLL.EXE/RUNDLL32.EXE) to execute a function exposed by a DLL. Since they have the same format, an EXE can be used as a DLL. Consuming code can load an EXE via the same mechanism as loading a DLL.
- ^ Microsoft Corporation (3 August 2021). "Creating a Resource-Only DLL". Microsoft Developer Network Library.