Question

What in the world is a DLL (Dynamic Link Library)?

Answer 1

I know they are compiled C/C++ files, but what are they?

Answer 2

Hmmmm.I think its Microsofts library in its operating systems.....?

Answer 3

Is that you in the pic?

Answer 4

A DLL is a collection (or library) of routines that can be shared by multiple processes. So lets say you had a maths library and you had two applications that wanted to use that library. You could either "link in" the maths library into each of your applications, or you could create a DLL out of your maths library so that ONE copy of it can be shared by all your applications. The DLL is "dynamically" loaded on first use. Directly linking in the maths library into each of your applications would mean each applications resulting executable would be larger than if they shared the DLL.

Answer 5

You can find a more in-depth explanation here if you are interested: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/815065