File Extension DLL

File type: Dynamic Link Library

About the DLL file type:

If Windows cannot find the appropriate program associated with .DLL files, then your registry may have errors. Check your Windows registry for errors (includes file association errors).

DLL files are files shared between a number of software programs (and are similar to .EXE files), used in Microsoft Windows and OS/2 operating systems. These files will contain compiled procedures, or drivers (for example for a printer) which a range of programs can then all access. You will often come across DLL files in the context of not having them, which is to say if you plug a new piece of hardware into your PC the computer might complain about missing the 123XYZ.DLL file. In practice this means that the system cant find the driver associated with this hardware. You will usually be able to download legitimate DLL files from a CD accompanying the hardware, or off the Internet from the hardware producers website.

Additional Information:
It is unlikely that you should ever have to open or edit these files (unless you are a specialist). Also note that these can be a source of infection and should be saved from the Internet or executed from an email, with care. Specific software that can open DLL files include: Generally there is no need to open DLL and it isnt particularly advisable to attempt to.