A programming library is a collection of pre-written code that developers can use to optimize tasks and make their job more efficient. Libraries provide reusable chunks of code that can be used to create applications quickly and easily.
Libraries are usually targeted for specific common problems and include different pre-coded components. For example, let’s say if you’re creating an application that allows people to login to a website. You might then use a library to create user authentication for logging in and connecting to your app.
Libraries encourage the sharing of code in a modular fashion and ease the distribution of the code.
The fundamental difference between a programming library and a framework lies in a term called inversion of control. When you use a library, you are in charge of the flow of the application. You are choosing when and where to call the library.
Libraries can be found for a large variety of topics and domains. Everything from a CSS library like Bootstrap, which helps you build out a web front end, to libraries for single sign on (SSO). You can find libraries for credit card processing, game mechanics, data visualization, and more. So, they don’t just work on the front end, but also back end as well, and you can find them for most programming languages out there.
When looking for a library, you will want to test to make sure it works for what you are looking to do, as well as it matching the programming language that you are using.
It is not uncommon for a large project to use multiple libraries to make the development of code faster. Sometimes you will develop your own library to use on a project. It may be something that is specific to the organization you are working for, that you keep for future project. Or it might be something you will share this as either a paid or free resource that other developers can use.
I’ve personally used libraries written in, and for, JavaScript, Java, PHP, CSS, and C#. And those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head, not including the many others I’ve probably used over my development career.
What is a Software Library was originally found on Access 2 Learn
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