DLL is the acronym for "Dynamic Link Library" in Windows operating systems and denotes a dynamic program library. The DLL files can contain data, resources or machine code in any combination. In this tipps + tricks article, you can read what a DLL file is in detail and what advantages it brings for Windows.
What is a DLL?
Most of the operating system functionality in Windows is provided through DLLs (Dynamic Link Libraries). A DLL file contains a library of functions and additional information that a Windows program can access. In Windows, the filename extension for a DLL file is .dll . Assuming you start a program, links to the necessary DLL files are created. When creating a static link, DLL files are used until the program is terminated. Conversely, when a dynamic link is created, the DLL files are only used when necessary. This has the advantage that resources such as hard disk space and RAM can be used more efficiently. This allows the operating system and programs to load and run faster and take up less hard drive space on the computer.
The special thing about it is that a DLL file can be used by several programs. The functionality provided in a DLL can even be used by different programs at the same time. For you, DLL files mostly act in the background. This means you don't have to open or interact with these files..
Advantages of DLLs
The primary benefit of DLL files is that they reduce the amount of memory used by programs. Code and data are not duplicated on your hard drive, but a single DLL file can be used by several programs at the same time, which makes resource consumption much more efficient. With the help of DLLs, the file is loaded into main memory only once and can then be used by several programs that require the same program library.
Another advantage is the simplified provision and installation of DLLs. If part of the machine code has to be changed - due to any weaknesses or updates - it is not necessary to update every program that is linked to the DLL individually. It is sufficient to simply adapt the code within the DLL and all programs can automatically access the latest version. An entire software package can be updated by updating separate DLLs..
Finally, there is support for a modular architecture. This means that programs can be developed using DLLs that require a modular architecture. The modular approach pursues the systematic breakdown of software packages into logical sub-blocks - precisely these modules. This means that larger structures can be kept clearer and better controlled.
Weaknesses of DLLs
You may have had a problem with a missing DLL file. But other conflicts can also arise. Imagine two programs using the same DLL file. However, a program uses an older version in order to guarantee its full functionality. If you have the current version of the DLL file, a DLL conflict can arise because the programs expect or require different versions of the DLL. This conflict can often be resolved by manually inserting the DLL in the program folder.
Another weak point is, for example, DLL hijacking or the malicious use of DLL injection. Here you can find more information about a DLL vulnerability in Office and Co.
