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`Linking an Executable to a DLL
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`Linking an Executable to a DLL
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`Visual Studio 2015
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`An executable file links to ﴾or loads﴿ a DLL in one of two ways:
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`Implicit linking
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`Explicit linking
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`Implicit linking is sometimes referred to as static load or load‐time dynamic linking. Explicit linking is sometimes
`referred to as dynamic load or run‐time dynamic linking.
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`With implicit linking, the executable using the DLL links to an import library ﴾.lib file﴿ provided by the maker of the
`DLL. The operating system loads the DLL when the executable using it is loaded. The client executable calls the DLL's
`exported functions just as if the functions were contained within the executable.
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`With explicit linking, the executable using the DLL must make function calls to explicitly load and unload the DLL and
`to access the DLL's exported functions. The client executable must call the exported functions through a function
`pointer.
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`An executable can use the same DLL with either linking method. Furthermore, these mechanisms are not mutually
`exclusive, as one executable can implicitly link to a DLL and another can attach to it explicitly.
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`What do you want to know more about?
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`Working with Import Libraries and Export Files
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`Determining which linking method to use
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`The search path used by Windows to locate a DLL
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`See Also
`DLLs in Visual C++
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`© 2015 Microsoft
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`https://msdn.microsoft.com/enus/library/9yd93633(d=printer).aspx
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`Columbia Ex 2040-1
`Symantec v Columbia
`IPR2015-00375