- .LIB File Extension
- How to open:
- How to convert:
- Microsoft Corporation
- Source code and script
- N/A
- How to solve problems with LIB files
- .LIB File Extension
- Programs that open LIB files
- Finale Library
- How to open a LIB file
- What’s the difference between .so, .la and .a library files?
- 2 Answers 2
- File type breakdown
- Static vs Dynamic
- Static
- Dynamic
- Details of extension .lib
- Visual C++ Import Library
- ESPL Encrypted Programming File
- TINA Library
- Maple Repository Data File
- FluidDraw Library
- Scholars Aid Library
- CIRCAD Source Library
- PSpice Library
- WAsP Wind Atlas Data
- Cadence OrCAD Library Data
- Finale Library Data
- Sage MAS 90 Library Data
- BricsCAD Library
- Sibelius House Style Library
- Game Maker Actions Library
- MODELLER Library Data
- Is it possible that the filename extension is misspelled?
- The .lib filename extension is often given incorrectly!
- Can’t open a .lib file?
- To change file associations:
- Supported operating systems
.LIB File Extension
The lib file extension is used for one of the Linker Input files.
LINK accepts COFF standard libraries and COFF import libraries, both of which usually have the extension .lib.
Linker input libraries contain objects and are created by the LIB tool.
Linker import libraries contain information about exports in other programs and are created either by LINK when it builds a program that contains exports or by the LIB tool.
How to open:
How to convert:
Microsoft Corporation
Source code and script
N/A
How to solve problems with LIB files
- Associate the LIB file extension with the correct application. On :
Windows:Right click on any LIB file and then click «Open with» > «Choose another app». Now select another program and check the box «Always use this app to open *.LIB files».Mac:Right click (or Ctrl-click) the LIB file, then click «Open with» > «Other. «. Then choose another program and check the «Always Open With» box.Linux:Right click on the file, and select «Open with» and choose another program.iPhone:Tap the file. If you do not see an app to open the file, then tap Share «Share» and choose an app. Alternatively, save the file. Then open the Files app Files app. There long-press on the file, then release your finger. You will see a black menu bar. Then tap «Share» and select an app.Android:Tap the Settings icon on your smartphone, then tap on the Apps section. There tap the Options icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen to change the default apps. - Update your software that should actually open .LIB is Microsoft Linker input library data. Because only the current version supports the latest LIB file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the Microsoft Corporation manufacturer website after an available .LIB is Microsoft Linker input library data update.
- To make sure that your LIB file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with antivirus software.
.LIB File Extension
A LIB file contains a library of information used by a specific program. It may store a variety of information, which may include functions and constants referenced by a program or actual objects, such as text clippings, images, or other media. LIB files are typically referenced by applications and should not be opened manually.
Windows dynamic libraries typically have a .DLL file extension. Macintosh dynamic libraries often have a .DYLIB extension.
Programs that open LIB files
Finale Library
A LIB file may also be a MakeMusic Finale library file. It contains a collection of musical elements, such as expression markings and chord symbol suffixes. Saving these elements in a LIB file allows composers to import and reuse them across multiple scores.
Composers use MakeMusic Finale to write, edit, play back, and share musical scores. As part of creating scores, composers can adjust certain score settings and elements. For example, a composer can specify custom fonts for the score’s title, lyrics, and other text, and they can edit how chord suffixes, clefs, fretboards, key signatures, and other elements appear.
If a composer knows they’ll want to use a set of custom settings and elements across multiple scores, they can save them as a Finale library file. To create a LIB file from their current score, composers select File → Save Library. from Finale’s menu bar. Then, they can specify exactly which settings and elements should be saved in the LIB file, before saving it.
How to open a LIB file
You can open a LIB file with MakeMusic Finale (Windows, Mac). To do so, select File → Load Library. while editing a score. Finale will then apply the settings and elements your LIB file contains to your score.
What’s the difference between .so, .la and .a library files?
I know an .so file is a kind of dynamic library (lots of threads can share such libraries so there is no need to have more than one copy of it in memory). But what is the difference between .a and .la ? Are these all static libraries? If dynamic libs have big advantages over static ones, why there are still lots of static libraries? When should I try to build code into .so or .a ?
[mirror@home ins_openvpn]$ ls lib/openvpn/plugins/ -l total 96 -rw-r--r-- 1 mirror mirror 22892 Sep 2 23:25 openvpn-plugin-auth-pam.a -rwxr-xr-x 1 mirror mirror 931 Sep 2 23:25 openvpn-plugin-auth-pam.la -rwxr-xr-x 1 mirror mirror 23621 Sep 2 23:25 openvpn-plugin-auth-pam.so -rw-r--r-- 1 mirror mirror 17228 Sep 2 23:25 openvpn-plugin-down-root.a -rwxr-xr-x 1 mirror mirror 932 Sep 2 23:25 openvpn-plugin-down-root.la -rwxr-xr-x 1 mirror mirror 18805 Sep 2 23:25 openvpn-plugin-down-root.so
2 Answers 2
File type breakdown
.so files are dynamic libraries. The suffix stands for «shared object», because all the applications that are linked with the library use the same file, rather than making a copy in the resulting executable.
.a files are static libraries. The suffix stands for «archive», because they’re actually just an archive (made with the ar command — a predecessor of tar that’s now just used for making libraries) of the original .o object files.
.la files are text files used by the GNU «libtools» package to describe the files that make up the corresponding library. You can find more information about them in this question: What are libtool’s .la file for?
Static vs Dynamic
Static
- Pro: The user always uses the version of the library that you’ve tested with your application, so there shouldn’t be any surprising compatibility problems.
- Con: If a problem is fixed in a library, you need to redistribute your application to take advantage of it. However, unless it’s a library that users are likely to update on their own, you’d might need to do this anyway.
Dynamic
- Pro: Your process’s memory footprint is smaller, because the memory used for the library is amortized among all the processes using the library.
- Pro: Libraries can be loaded on demand at run time; this is good for plugins, so you don’t have to choose the plugins to be used when compiling and installing the software. New plugins can be added on the fly.
- Con: The library might not exist on the system where someone is trying to install the application, or they might have a version that’s not compatible with the application. To mitigate this, the application package might need to include a copy of the library, so it can install it if necessary. This is also often mitigated by package managers, which can download and install any necessary dependencies.
- Con: Link-Time Optimization is generally not possible, so there could possibly be efficiency implications in high-performance applications. See the Wikipedia discussion of WPO and LTO.
Dynamic libraries are especially useful for system libraries, like libc . These libraries often need to include code that’s dependent on the specific OS and version, because kernel interfaces have changed. If you link a program with a static system library, it will only run on the version of the OS that this library version was written for. But if you use a dynamic library, it will automatically pick up the library that’s installed on the system you run on.
Details of extension .lib
Below, you can find answers to the following questions:
- What is the .lib file?
- Which program can create the .lib file?
- Where can you find a description of the .lib format?
- What can convert .lib files to a different format?
- Which MIME-type is associated with the .lib extension?
.lib
Visual C++ Import Library
The LIB file is a Visual C++ Import Library. This file contains information the linker needs to resolve external references to exported DLL functions.
.lib
ESPL Encrypted Programming File
The LIB file is a ESPL Encrypted Programming File. The Ensign Software Programming Language (ESPL) is used to program user-defined studies, lines, reports, and tools using the Ensign Windows software. Encrypted ESPL files are saved with a file extension of .LIB, and cannot be loaded into the ESPL Editor.
.lib
TINA Library
The LIB file is a TINA Library. TINA is a circuit simulation and PCB design software package for analyzing, designing, and real time testing of analog, digital, VHDL, MCU, and mixed electronic circuits and their PCB layouts, it is made by Designsoft.
.lib
Maple Repository Data File
The LIB file is a Maple Repository Data File. Maple is a commercial computer algebra system developed and sold commercially by Maplesoft. The file extension .mla is used to denote a Maple repository file. In early versions of Maple, a repository was a pair of files named with .lib and .ind extensions.
.lib
FluidDraw Library
The LIB file is a FluidDraw Library. FluidDraw is an application for creating electro-pneumatic circuit drawings. FluidDraw Libraries are hierarchically organised collections of symbols.
.lib
Scholars Aid Library
The LIB file is a Scholars Aid Library. Scholars Aid is an academic writing software that can be used by everyone to organize, search, and use data.
.lib
CIRCAD Source Library
The LIB file is a CIRCAD Source Library. CIRCAD is a powerful and easy-to-use PCB Design package.
.lib
PSpice Library
The LIB file is a PSpice Library. PSpice is a SPICE analog circuit and digital logic simulation program for Microsoft Windows.
.lib
WAsP Wind Atlas Data
The LIB file is a WAsP Wind Atlas Data. WAsP (Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program) is a PC program for predicting wind climates, wind resources and power productions from wind turbines and wind farms.
.lib
Cadence OrCAD Library Data
The LIB file is a Cadence OrCAD Library Data. Cadence OrCAD PCB Designer contains a fully integrated design flow that includes a constraint manager, design capture technology, component tools, a PCB editor, an auto/interactive router, and interfaces for manufacturing and mechanical CAD.
.lib
Finale Library Data
The LIB file is a Finale Library Data. Finale is the flagship program of a series of proprietary scorewriters created by MakeMusic for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X.
.lib
Sage MAS 90 Library Data
The LIB file is a Sage MAS 90 Library Data. Sage MAS 90 is a business management application which combines core accounting and financial reporting modules with project management, manufacturing and distribution solutions.
.lib
BricsCAD Library
The LIB file is a BricsCAD Library. BricsCAD is a computer-aided design (CAD) application developed by Bricsys.
.lib
Sibelius House Style Library
The LIB file is a Sibelius House Style Library. Sibelius is the complete software for writing, playing, printing and publishing music notation.
.lib
Game Maker Actions Library
The LIB file is a Game Maker Actions Library. Game Maker is a game development software application written by Mark Overmars in the Delphi programming language. Overmars released it in 2000.
.lib
MODELLER Library Data
The LIB file is a MODELLER Library Data. MODELLER is a computer program that models three-dimensional structures of proteins and their assemblies by satisfaction of spatial restraints.
Other types of files may also use the .lib file extension. If you have helpful information about .lib extension, write to us!
Is it possible that the filename extension is misspelled?
We found the following similar extensions in our database:
The .lib filename extension is often given incorrectly!
According to the searches on our site, these misspellings were the most common in the past year:
lub (1) , llb (1) , ljb (1) , lin (1) , lif (1) , lbi (1) , ilb (1) , ib (1) , mib (1) , lob (1) , lkb (1) , liv (1) , lig (1) , li (1) , lb (1)
Can’t open a .lib file?
If you want to open a .lib file on your computer, you just need to have the appropriate program installed. If the .lib association isn’t set correctly, you may receive the following error message:
Windows can’t open this file:
To open this file, Windows needs to know what program you want to use to open it. Windows can go online to look it up automatically, or you can manually select from a list of programs that are installed on your computer.
To change file associations:
- Right-click a file with the extension whose association you want to change, and then click Open With.
- In the Open With dialog box, click the program whith which you want the file to open, or click Browse to locate the program that you want.
- Select the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file check box.
Supported operating systems
Windows Server 2016/2019/2022, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows 11, Linux, Mac OS X, macOS, iOS, Android