What is a shared dll?

Answer 1

A DLL or dynamic-link library file is generally an executable file with the capability of allowing the sharing of codes and other various resources in programs to enhance the performance of particular tasks. Microsoft Windows ensures a provision of DLL files containing resources and functions that permit programs that are Windows-based to function in Windows environment.

Shared DLL files offer standard benefits for shared libraries, including modularity which permits changes to be made to data and code in one self-contained DLL being shared by a number of applications although no change is personally made to these applications. This is a basic modularity form that permits for fairly compact service packs and patches as well as for larger applications, such as service packs Microsoft Office, Microsoft Visual Studio, and Microsoft Windows.

This file's modularity is also beneficial due to the use of the plug-ins generic interface. One interface can be developed hence permiting the new and old modules to be seamlessly integrated through run-time in that they are in a pre-existent applications form without modifying the application. This is a concept of dynamic extensibility capable of being taken into extremes through ActiveX.

Shared DLL's are misnomers such that one can follow any file that requires to be kept track of. A major advantage is the ability of limiting active copies being used. Specific files should be checked to see whether the value is smaller than a particular value and if so, permit the program to run. If the value is more, a warning should be flashed up and the program closed. Multiple applications share DLL files to reduce the requirement for disk spacer and memory. Deleting or moving a shared DLL file to a different folder results in an inability to access the functions stored in that particular DLL file. This is because the resultant registry entry of the section of DLL files does not point to the location of the specific DLL location any longer.