`oci.dll` is a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) file provided by Oracle Corporation. It's an essential component of Oracle's software suite and stands for "Oracle Call Interface." The Oracle Call Interface (OCI) is a comprehensive, high-performance, native C language interface to Oracle Database for custom or packaged applications.
OCI gives your programs the capability to perform the full range of database operations that are possible with the Oracle Database, including SQL statement processing and object manipulation. Applications using OCI can be written in multiple programming languages and can be run on any environment that supports an Oracle client.
The `oci.dll` file contains the necessary code and functions that allow software applications to communicate and interact directly with Oracle databases using the OCI. When there's an issue with this DLL (e.g., missing or corrupted), applications that rely on it may encounter errors. Therefore, it's crucial to ensure this file's integrity if you're working with Oracle databases or applications that use the Oracle Call Interface. If issues arise, reinstalling the Oracle client or the specific Oracle software package might resolve them.