DLL
Technology & Computing abbreviation · Software
| Stands for | Dynamic-link library |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
DLL stands for Dynamic-link library, a software abbreviation.
Windows file containing code and resources that several programs load and share at run time, such as dialog boxes, graphics routines or a language runtime. Missing or mismatched DLLs cause startup errors like "VCRUNTIME140.dll was not found".
Example: The game won't start because MSVCP140.dll is missing, so reinstall the Visual C++ Redistributable.
Usage notes
DLLs use the same Portable Executable format as .exe files. "DLL hell" described the 1990s problem of installers overwriting shared DLLs with incompatible versions, which Windows later eased with side-by-side assemblies. Downloading single DLLs from random websites is a common malware trap; the safe fix is reinstalling the package that provides them. Linux uses .so files and macOS .dylib files for the same purpose.
Related abbreviations
More software abbreviations
- CC0 – Creative Commons Zero
- CE – Community Edition
- CLA – Contributor license agreement
- COTS – Commercial off-the-shelf
- DAW – Digital audio workstation
- DCO – Developer Certificate of Origin
- DRM – Digital rights management
- EE – Enterprise Edition
- EOL – End of life
- ESR – Extended Support Release
- ESU – Extended Security Updates
- EULA – End-user license agreement