OLE
Technology & Computing abbreviation · Software
| Stands for | Object Linking and Embedding |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
OLE stands for Object Linking and Embedding, a software abbreviation.
Microsoft technology that lets a document contain live content from another application, such as an Excel chart inside a Word report that opens in Excel when double-clicked.
Example: The embedded spreadsheet is an OLE object, so double-clicking it opens Excel inside the document.
Usage notes
OLE debuted in 1990 and evolved into COM (Component Object Model) and ActiveX. Linking keeps a reference to an external file that updates automatically, while embedding stores a full copy inside the document. Attackers have abused OLE objects in Office files to deliver malware, prompting Microsoft to block many object types by default.