Help/command/add_library.rst

add_library
-----------

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   .. contents::

Add a library to the project using the specified source files.

Normal Libraries
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.. code-block:: cmake

  add_library(<name> [STATIC | SHARED | MODULE]
              [EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL]
              [source1] [source2 ...])

Adds a library target called ``<name>`` to be built from the source files
listed in the command invocation.  (The source files can be omitted here
if they are added later using :command:`target_sources`.)  The ``<name>``
corresponds to the logical target name and must be globally unique within
a project.  The actual file name of the library built is constructed based
on conventions of the native platform (such as ``lib<name>.a`` or
``<name>.lib``).

``STATIC``, ``SHARED``, or ``MODULE`` may be given to specify the type of
library to be created.  ``STATIC`` libraries are archives of object files
for use when linking other targets.  ``SHARED`` libraries are linked
dynamically and loaded at runtime.  ``MODULE`` libraries are plugins that
are not linked into other targets but may be loaded dynamically at runtime
using dlopen-like functionality.  If no type is given explicitly the
type is ``STATIC`` or ``SHARED`` based on whether the current value of the
variable :variable:`BUILD_SHARED_LIBS` is ``ON``.  For ``SHARED`` and
``MODULE`` libraries the :prop_tgt:`POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE` target
property is set to ``ON`` automatically.
A ``SHARED`` or ``STATIC`` library may be marked with the :prop_tgt:`FRAMEWORK`
target property to create an macOS Framework.

If a library does not export any symbols, it must not be declared as a
``SHARED`` library.  For example, a Windows resource DLL or a managed C++/CLI
DLL that exports no unmanaged symbols would need to be a ``MODULE`` library.
This is because CMake expects a ``SHARED`` library to always have an
associated import library on Windows.

By default the library file will be created in the build tree directory
corresponding to the source tree directory in which the command was
invoked.  See documentation of the :prop_tgt:`ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY`,
:prop_tgt:`LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY`, and
:prop_tgt:`RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY` target properties to change this
location.  See documentation of the :prop_tgt:`OUTPUT_NAME` target
property to change the ``<name>`` part of the final file name.

If ``EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL`` is given the corresponding property will be set on
the created target.  See documentation of the :prop_tgt:`EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL`
target property for details.

Source arguments to ``add_library`` may use "generator expressions" with
the syntax ``$<...>``.  See the :manual:`cmake-generator-expressions(7)`
manual for available expressions.  See the :manual:`cmake-buildsystem(7)`
manual for more on defining buildsystem properties.

See also :prop_sf:`HEADER_FILE_ONLY` on what to do if some sources are
pre-processed, and you want to have the original sources reachable from
within IDE.

Imported Libraries
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.. code-block:: cmake

  add_library(<name> <SHARED|STATIC|MODULE|OBJECT|UNKNOWN> IMPORTED
              [GLOBAL])

An :ref:`IMPORTED library target <Imported Targets>` references a library
file located outside the project.  No rules are generated to build it, and
the :prop_tgt:`IMPORTED` target property is ``True``.  The target name has
scope in the directory in which it is created and below, but the ``GLOBAL``
option extends visibility.  It may be referenced like any target built
within the project.  ``IMPORTED`` libraries are useful for convenient
reference from commands like :command:`target_link_libraries`.  Details
about the imported library are specified by setting properties whose names
begin in ``IMPORTED_`` and ``INTERFACE_``.

The most important properties are:

* :prop_tgt:`IMPORTED_LOCATION` (and its per-configuration
  variant :prop_tgt:`IMPORTED_LOCATION_<CONFIG>`) which specifies the
  location of the main library file on disk.
* :prop_tgt:`IMPORTED_OBJECTS` (and :prop_tgt:`IMPORTED_OBJECTS_<CONFIG>`)
  for object libraries, specifies the locations of object files on disk.
* :prop_tgt:`PUBLIC_HEADER` files to be installed during :command:`install` invocation

See documentation of the ``IMPORTED_*`` and ``INTERFACE_*`` properties
for more information.

An ``UNKNOWN`` library type is typically only used in the implementation of
:ref:`Find Modules`.  It allows the path to an imported library (often found
using the :command:`find_library` command) to be used without having to know
what type of library it is.  This is especially useful on Windows where a
static library and a DLL's import library both have the same file extension.

Object Libraries
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.. code-block:: cmake

  add_library(<name> OBJECT <src>...)

Creates an :ref:`Object Library <Object Libraries>`.  An object library
compiles source files but does not archive or link their object files into a
library.  Instead other targets created by :command:`add_library` or
:command:`add_executable` may reference the objects using an expression of the
form ``$<TARGET_OBJECTS:objlib>`` as a source, where ``objlib`` is the
object library name.  For example:

.. code-block:: cmake

  add_library(... $<TARGET_OBJECTS:objlib> ...)
  add_executable(... $<TARGET_OBJECTS:objlib> ...)

will include objlib's object files in a library and an executable
along with those compiled from their own sources.  Object libraries
may contain only sources that compile, header files, and other files
that would not affect linking of a normal library (e.g. ``.txt``).
They may contain custom commands generating such sources, but not
``PRE_BUILD``, ``PRE_LINK``, or ``POST_BUILD`` commands.  Some native build
systems (such as Xcode) may not like targets that have only object files, so
consider adding at least one real source file to any target that references
``$<TARGET_OBJECTS:objlib>``.

Alias Libraries
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.. code-block:: cmake

  add_library(<name> ALIAS <target>)

Creates an :ref:`Alias Target <Alias Targets>`, such that ``<name>`` can be
used to refer to ``<target>`` in subsequent commands.  The ``<name>`` does
not appear in the generated buildsystem as a make target.  The ``<target>``
may not be a non-``GLOBAL`` :ref:`Imported Target <Imported Targets>` or an
``ALIAS``.
``ALIAS`` targets can be used as linkable targets and as targets to
read properties from.  They can also be tested for existence with the
regular :command:`if(TARGET)` subcommand.  The ``<name>`` may not be used
to modify properties of ``<target>``, that is, it may not be used as the
operand of :command:`set_property`, :command:`set_target_properties`,
:command:`target_link_libraries` etc.  An ``ALIAS`` target may not be
installed or exported.

Interface Libraries
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.. code-block:: cmake

  add_library(<name> INTERFACE [IMPORTED [GLOBAL]])

Creates an :ref:`Interface Library <Interface Libraries>`.  An ``INTERFACE``
library target does not directly create build output, though it may
have properties set on it and it may be installed, exported and
imported. Typically the ``INTERFACE_*`` properties are populated on
the interface target using the commands:

* :command:`set_property`,
* :command:`target_link_libraries(INTERFACE)`,
* :command:`target_link_options(INTERFACE)`,
* :command:`target_include_directories(INTERFACE)`,
* :command:`target_compile_options(INTERFACE)`,
* :command:`target_compile_definitions(INTERFACE)`, and
* :command:`target_sources(INTERFACE)`,

and then it is used as an argument to :command:`target_link_libraries`
like any other target.

An ``INTERFACE`` :ref:`Imported Target <Imported Targets>` may also be
created with this signature.  An ``IMPORTED`` library target references a
library defined outside the project.  The target name has scope in the
directory in which it is created and below, but the ``GLOBAL`` option
extends visibility.  It may be referenced like any target built within
the project.  ``IMPORTED`` libraries are useful for convenient reference
from commands like :command:`target_link_libraries`.