Dynamic Libraries
Dynamic libraries are shared libraries that contain compiled code and resources that can be loaded and linked at runtime by multiple applications, rather than being statically linked at compile time. They enable code reuse, reduce memory usage, and allow for updates without recompiling dependent programs. Common implementations include .dll files on Windows, .so files on Linux/Unix, and .dylib files on macOS.
Developers should use dynamic libraries when building modular applications that need to share code across multiple executables, as they reduce binary size and memory footprint. They are essential for plugin architectures, system libraries, and software that requires runtime updates or versioning, such as operating system components or large-scale applications with shared dependencies.