Dynamic Linking
Dynamic linking is a method in software development where executable code and libraries are linked at runtime rather than compile time. It allows programs to share common library code, reducing memory usage and enabling updates without recompiling the main application. This is typically implemented using shared libraries (e.g., .dll files on Windows, .so files on Linux, .dylib on macOS).
Developers should use dynamic linking when building modular applications that require efficient memory usage, easy updates, or plugin architectures, such as in large-scale desktop software, operating systems, or applications with frequent library updates. It's essential for scenarios where multiple programs need to share the same library code, reducing disk space and memory footprint compared to static linking.