FreeLibrary

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This function decrements the reference count of the loaded dynamic-link library (DLL) module. When the reference count reaches zero, the module is unmapped from the address space of the calling process and the handle is no longer valid.

BOOL
FreeLibrary( HMODULE
hLibModule
);

Parameters

hLibModule

Handle to the loaded library module. The LoadLibraryor GetModuleHandlefunction returns this handle.

Return Values

Nonzero indicates success. Zero indicates failure. To get extended error information, call GetLastError.

Remarks

Each process maintains a reference count for each loaded library module. This reference count is incremented each time LoadLibraryis called and is decremented each time FreeLibraryis called. A DLL module loaded at process initialization due to load-time dynamic linking has a reference count of one. This count is incremented if the same module is loaded by a call to LoadLibrary.

Before unmapping a library module, the system enables the DLL to detach from the process by calling the DLL's DllMainfunction, if it has one, with the DLL_PROCESS_DETACH value. Doing so gives the DLL an opportunity to clean up resources allocated on behalf of the current process. After the entry-point function returns, the library module is removed from the address space of the current process.

It is not safe to call FreeLibraryfrom DllMain. For more information, see the Remarks section in DllMain.

Calling FreeLibrarydoes not affect other processes using the same library module.

Requirements

Runs On	Versions	Defined in	Include	Link to
Windows CE OS	1.0 and later	Winbase.h		Coredll.lib, Nk.lib

Note This API is part of the complete Windows CE OS package as provided by Microsoft. The functionality of a particular platform is determined by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and some devices may not support this API.