32-Bit Environments and 64-Bit Environments

The link-editor is provided as a 32-bit application and a 64-bit application. Each link-editor can operate on 32-bit objects and 64-bit objects. On systems that are running a 64-bit environment, both versions of the link-editor can be executed. On systems that are running a 32-bit environment, only the 32-bit version of the link-editor can be executed.

The runtime linker is provided as a 32-bit object and a 64-bit object. The 32-bit object is used to execute 32-bit processes, and the 64-bit object is used to execute 64-bit processes.

The operations of the link-editor and runtime linker on 32-bit objects and 64-bit objects are identical. This document typically uses 32-bit examples. Cases where 64-bit processing differs from the 32-bit processing are highlighted.