Linker
A linker is a software tool that combines multiple object files generated by a compiler into a single executable program, library, or another object file. It resolves symbolic references between these files, assigns final memory addresses to code and data sections, and performs optimizations like dead code elimination. Linkers are essential in the compilation process for creating runnable software from compiled source code.
Developers should learn about linkers when working with compiled languages like C, C++, or Rust to understand how programs are assembled and to debug linking errors such as undefined references or duplicate symbols. Knowledge of linkers is crucial for optimizing binary size, managing dependencies in large projects, and creating shared libraries or dynamic link libraries (DLLs) in systems programming.