---
title: "what is Difference between DLL and EXE?"  
description: "what is Difference between DLL and EXE?"  
author: "Akash Tripathi"  
published: 2010-12-11  
updated: 2020-09-14  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/290/what-is-difference-between-dll-and-exe  
category: ".net"  
tags: [".net"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# what is Difference between DLL and EXE?

An exe is an executible program. A DLL (Dynamic Link Library) is a file that can be loaded and executed by programs dynamically.\
EXE is a Self Executable File where as DLL is not self executable file,To run DLL file we need a exe file.

## Answers

### Answer by krishna bramhadandi

DLL\
It is Dynamic Link Library that is used as a part of EXE or other DLLs. It cannot be run independently. \
It runs in the application process memory, so it is called as in-process component. \
It can be reused in an application. \
It does not have a main function.

\
EXE\
It is an executable file, which can be run independently. \
EXE is an out-process component, which means that it runs in a separate process. \
It cannot be reused in an application. \
It has a main function.

\

### Answer by Akash Tripathi

An exe is an executible program. A DLL (Dynamic Link Library) is a file that can be loaded and executed by programs dynamically.\
EXE is a Self Executable File where as DLL is not self executable file,To run DLL file we need a exe file.


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