| Type | How It works | File extensions | Platform |
| static | Code is fetched from the library archive and inserted into the executable | .a
.lib (MSVS) | all |
| dynamic | The library is loaded into memory or cache memory and code is retrieved as needed | .dll (windows)
.dylib (mac) | pc & mac |
| shared | The
library, or parts of it, is loaded into memory or cache memory and code
is retrieved as needed. The library may be shared among multiple
users | .so or .so# | Linux |
| run time | This library is used to run an application. It is not part of the compilation. | .so
.dll
| all |