dll - Difference between static linking and dynamic linking

Question

What is the difference between static linking and dynamic linking?

Answer 1

In static linking, functions and variables which are defined in external library files are linked inside your executable. That means that the code is actually linked against your code when compiling/linking.

With dynamic linking external functions that you use in your software are not linked against your executable. Instead they reside in a external library files which are only referenced by your software. Ie: the compiler/linker instructs the software on where to find the used functions.

On windows platforms you can even explicitly load DLL files at run time and hook up the functions contained in the DLL.