---
title: "Global Assembly Cache"  
description: "Global Assembly Cache or GAC is machine wide. Basically it is way to keep DLL s globally without worrying about conflicts.GAC or the Global Assembly C"  
author: "Sachindra Singh"  
published: 2011-02-08  
updated: 2014-09-18  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/blog/110/global-assembly-cache  
category: ".net"  
tags: [".net"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# Global Assembly Cache

**[Global Assembly](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/158570/what-is-the-global-assembly-cache-gac-and-how-is-it-used-in-dot-net) Cache** or GAC is machine wide. Basically it is way to keep DLL s globally without worrying about conflicts. GAC or the Global Assembly Cache in .NET [Framework](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/34615/software-framework-vs-library) [acts as](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/51373/what-were-president-johnson-s-first-official-acts-as-president) the central place for registering assemblies it means no more DLL HELL. Each computer where the [common language runtime](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/16/common-language-runtime) is installed has a machine-wide code cache called the Global Assembly Cache. The Global Assembly Cache stores assemblies specifically designated to be shared by several [applications](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/12847/how-to-choose-the-right-ethernet-cable-for-industrial-applications) on the computer. The .Net Framework provides two tools for working with the cache. One is the windows shell [extension](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/22/extension-method) that allows you to work with the cache using a Graphical [User Interface](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/22909/user-interface-objects-in-cocoa) (GUI) and the next one is [command line](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/158085/how-do-i-pass-command-line-arguments-to-a-node-js-program) tool called Global Assembly Cache (GAC) tool (Gacutil.exe).\

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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/blog/110/global-assembly-cache

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