Reference Counts for Windows Dynamic Libraries

 Last reviewed: July 22, 1997
Article ID: Q11467
3.00 3.10 WINDOWS kbprg

The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows versions 3.0 and 3.1

Libraries are reference counted and remain resident in memory until they cease to be referenced.

When a task module is started and is dynamically linked to the library, the reference count is incremented by 1 (one). When the task module is terminated, the reference count is decremented by 1 (one).

Two functions, LoadLibrary() and FreeLibrary(), affect the reference count. LoadLibrary() increments the reference count by one while FreeLibrary() decrements the reference count by one.

Additional reference words: 3.00 3.10
KBCategory: kbprg
KBSubcategory: KrDll
Keywords : kb16bitonly

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Last reviewed: July 22, 1997
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