What Is OLE?

OLE is a published specification that defines how applications handle objects. Any application that adheres to this spec can share objects with other applications. This sharing can take place in two ways:

• Users can link or embed these objects in their files. This lets them create compound documents whose data originates in different applications.

• Developers can build applications that use objects that are exposed (made public) by other applications. This lets developers integrate functionality that exists in shrink-wrapped products or integrate custom objects into new business applications.