The import information begins with the Import Directory Table, which describes the remainder of the import information. The Import Directory Table contains address information that is used to resolve fix-up references to the entry points within a DLL image. The Import Directory Table consists of an array of Import Directory Entries, one entry for each DLL the image references. The last directory entry is empty (filled with null values), which indicates the end of the directory table.
Each Import Directory entry has the following format:
| Offset | Size | Field | Description |
| 0 | 4 | Import Lookup Table RVA (Characteristics) | Relative virtual address of the Import Lookup Table; this table contains a name or ordinal for each import. (The name "Characteristics" is used in WINNT.H but is no longer descriptive of this field.) |
| 4 | 4 | Time/Date Stamp | Set to zero until bound; then this field is set to the time/data stamp of the DLL. |
| 8 | 4 | Fowarder Chain | Index of first forwarder reference. |
| 12 | 4 | Name RVA | Address of ASCII string containing the DLL name. This address is relative to the image base. |
| 16 | 4 | Import Address Table RVA (Thunk Table) | Relative virtual address of the Import Address Table: this table is identical in contents to the Import Lookup Table until the image is bound. |