Dynamic link library (.dll)/ Executable (.exe) files

An Assembly/Exe file is an output file which is generated by the compiler upon the successful compilation (build) of a .Net application. It's the smallest unit of deployment for any .NET project.

An assembly is a complied code library used for deployment,versioning and security.
Assemblies are two types

1) Process assembly
2) Library assembly.

Process assemblies are generated in .exe (executable file) format They are the final result of a .Net project. They can be directly accessed by the end user.

Library assemblies are generated in .dll(dynamic link library) format, they are the result set of a class library. They can be directly used by the end user or plug in to the existing project.


We can find the result file (exe/dll) in bin --> Debug   folder under the project root.


Creation of a .exe file
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When we create a console application or windows application, the result file will be in .exe format.

Right click the project and click Build option in the popup menu. The result will be in bin --> Debug   folder under the project root.

.exe file is an executable file, it will run its own and provides the result to the end user.



Creation of a .dll file
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When we create a class library, the result file will be in .dll format.

When we build the file, the result file will be in .dll format under the debug folder in the bin folder.