API’s and Runtime

While working on the computer or surfing the web, it is common to stumble upon terms like APIs and runtime. Some might even come across files like “api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll” while going through their system. This article will focus primarily on understanding what these terminologies mean. Using the computer daily without knowing these files does no good to the user. It is vital to comprehend how these files affect the performance of the system and what they achieve. Many amateur users are unaware of the existence of such files on the system. Thus, they do not understand how to solve errors that arise from such files.

What are APIs?

API stands for application program interface. It is an intermediary that facilitates communication between two applications. A simple example of this would be messaging applications. By sending text messages, one inevitably uses an API built by the respective organization. During times of pandemic, API has become essential. They come in handy in real-life, especially for restaurants and hotels. The no-touch rule has made it difficult for restaurants to gather business. By providing scanners, they take requests from those looking to make reservations, and APIs facilitate these requests.

What is Runtime?

While going through system files, one might eventually stumble upon Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable packages and .NET Runtime Libraries. Windows-based Operating Systems have these packages pre-installed on the computer. However, the runtime is a concept that is common to these packages and other third-party software. Runtime refers to programs/instructions executed while an application is already running. These instructions are vital to the smooth functioning of the application. Thus, it is necessary to ensure that the runtime of an application is optimal.

Understanding Dynamic Link Libraries

APIs and runtime are pretty simple concepts to understand. Dynamic Link Libraries (also known as .dll files) are the files that make use of both these concepts. A dynamic link library is a file that contains components essential to third-party software. Developers of such software use these components to assist their process. Here are a few elements that are essential to these applications.

1. i) Classes – Classes are building blocks of a program. They are blueprints for objects that are used later on in the course of execution. These objects are dynamic and affect the runtime of a program. Classes are a feature provided for Object-Oriented Programming languages like C++ and Python.
2. ii) Functions – Functions are sub-modules that are necessary for the execution of a program. They are a set of instructions that perform a specific task. These functions are simple to understand. A small example of a function would be a calculator. Every single button in a calculator is a sub-module that performs a specific function.

iii) UI Resources and Miscellaneous – These libraries also contain resources associated with the user interface. These resources come in various forms like images, audio, and icons. They are essential for the smooth functioning of the software. A user will not be able to navigate on the interface of the application if these components are not in the correct order.

In conclusion, one can find APIs, runtime, Dynamic Link Libraries, and Programming as complicated concepts at first. However, it is essential to understand these concepts when one faces errors like “api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll not found” or “vcruntime140_1.dll missing”. In such cases, one needs to realize why the error occurs and find solutions to the error. One gets a clearer picture of how these libraries come together in a program by understanding this. It is thus essential to comprehend these concepts before solving the errors that occur on the Operating System.