libgmodule

libgmodule is a library within the GLib project that provides a portable API for loading and using dynamic modules at runtime. It abstracts the platform-specific dynamic linker interfaces, allowing applications to load shared libraries and fetch symbols in a uniform way across Unix-like systems and Windows. The API centers on the GModule type and a small set of functions for opening modules, looking up symbols, and closing modules.

Key API elements include g_module_open, g_module_close, g_module_symbol, and g_module_error. g_module_open loads a module referenced by name and returns a GModule, optionally binding symbols immediately or lazily depending on flags. g_module_symbol retrieves the address of a symbol by name from an open module. g_module_close releases the module, and g_module_error returns a human-readable error message for the last failure.

Common use cases are plugin systems and extensible applications where components can be added or updated without recompilation. libgmodule is widely used in the GNOME ecosystem and with applications that rely on GLib for portability and consistency.

License and availability: libgmodule is part of GLib and is distributed under the LGPL (as part of GLib). It is maintained by the GLib project and GNOME contributors. It supports platforms with GLib on Unix-like systems and Windows via appropriate backends.

See also: GLib, GModule (the type), dynamic linking, plugin architecture.