run-time library

operating system, programming, library A file containing

routines which are linked with a program at run time rather

than at compile-time. The advantage of such dynamiclinking is that only one copy of the library needs to be

stored, rather than a copy being included with each

executable that refers to it. This can greatly reduce the

disk space occupied by programs. Furthermore, it means that

all programs immediately benefit from changes (e.g. bug

fixes) to the single copy of the library without requiring

recompilation. Since the library code is normally classified

as read-only to the memory management system, it is possible

for a single copy of the library to be loaded into memory and

shared by all active programs, thus reducing RAM and

virtual memory requirements and program load time.

(1997-07-16)