why do I need to link a lib file to my project?

Question

I am creating a project that uses a DLL. To build my project, I need to include a header file, and a lib file. Why do I need to include the respective lib file? shouldn't the header file declare all the needed information and then at runtime load any needed library/dll?

Thanks

Answer 1

That is a so-called "import library" that contains minimal wiring that will later (at load time) ask the operating system to load the DLL.