ctypes unload dll
ctypes, python
Solution
The only truly effective way I have ever found to do this is to take charge of calling `LoadLibrary` and `FreeLibrary`. Like this:
import ctypes
# get the module handle and create a ctypes library object
libHandle = ctypes.windll.kernel32.LoadLibraryA('mydll.dll')
lib = ctypes.WinDLL(None, handle=libHandle)
# do stuff with lib in the usual way
lib.Foo(42, 666)
# clean up by removing reference to the ctypes library object
del lib
# unload the DLL
ctypes.windll.kernel32.FreeLibrary(libHandle)
Update:
As of Python 3.8, `ctypes.WinDLL()` no longer accepts `None` to indicate that no filename is being passed. Instead, you can workaround this by passing an empty string.
See https://bugs.python.org/issue39243
Problem
I am loading a dll with ctypes like this: ``` lib = cdll.LoadLibrary("someDll.dll"); ``` When I am done with the library, I need to unload it to free resources it uses. I am having problems finding anything in the docs regarding how to do this. I see this rather old post: How can I unload a DLL using ctypes in Python?. I am hoping there is something obvious I have not found and less of a hack.