OLE offers object-enabling system software. OLE is based on the Component Object Model (COM), an underlying system software object model that allows complete interoperability between components that are written by different companies even when programmed in different languages. These components can be purchased, replaced, enhanced and reused at any time during the business-system life cycle.
The primary responsibility of the Component Object Model is to ensure that software components behave in a well-known and consistent manner without constricting how programmers implement different components. The Component Object Model accomplishes this by defining a binary interface for objects that is independent of any programming language. Objects conforming to the Component Object Model can communicate with each other without being programmed with specific information about each other's implementations.
Objects that are written to support the Component Object Model are collectively called component objects. Every feature of OLE depends on the Component Object Model to provide basic inter-object communication. OLE is a set of object services built on top of the Component Object Model. OLE provides a robust platform for building custom business applications that can be easily integrated with other business applications as well as with packaged software, whether the applications execute on a single machine or are distributed across a network.
Besides the OLE Component Object Model itself, there are many additional OLE features that directly benefit both users and corporate developers. Some of the major features of OLE are listed below.