Linker (computing)

An illustration of the linking process. Object files and static libraries are assembled into a new library or executable

In computing, a linker or link editor is a computer system program that takes one or more object files (generated by a compiler or an assembler) and combines them into a single executable file, library file, or another "object" file.

A simpler version that writes its output directly to memory is called the loader, though loading is typically considered a separate process.^[1]^[2]

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^ Cite error: The named reference Barron_1978_Consolidator was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[IBM_1972-1] Cite error: The named reference IBM_1972 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Barron_1978_Consolidator-2] Cite error: The named reference Barron_1978_Consolidator was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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