Editing Library (computing) (section)

==Linking==
The ''linking'' (or ''binding'') process resolves references known as ''symbols'' (or ''links'') by searching for them in various locations including configured libraries. If a [[linker (computing)|linker]] (or binder) does not find a symbol, then it fails, but multiple matches may or may not cause failure.

''Static linking'' is linking at [[link time|build time]], such that the library executable code is included in the program. ''Dynamic linking'' is linking at [[Runtime (program lifecycle phase)|run time]]; it involves building the program with information that supports run-time linking to a dynamic link library (DLL). For dynamic linking, a compatible DLL file must be available to the program at run time, but for static linking, the program is standalone.

{{anchor|Smart linking}}''Smart linking'' is performed by a build tool that excludes unused code in the linking process. For example, a program that only uses integers for arithmetic, or does no arithmetic operations at all, can exclude floating-point library routines. This can lead to smaller program file size and reduced memory usage.