# Confusing cURL build behavior

**URL:** <https://www.phphelp.com/t/confusing-curl-build-behavior/34465>\
**Category:** PHP Installation and Configuration\
**Created:** [January 31, 2022, 11:44pm UTC](https://www.phphelp.com/t/confusing-curl-build-behavior/34465 "2022-01-31T23:44:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![4lROmJ6H8JF](https://www.phphelp.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/4/3e96dc/32.png) [@4lROmJ6H8JF](https://www.phphelp.com/u/4lROmJ6H8JF)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 11:44pm UTC](https://www.phphelp.com/t/confusing-curl-build-behavior/34465/1 "2022-01-31T23:44:45Z")

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So if you get the Windows build of PHP, it gives you a php\_curl.dll in the ext directory. But if you build from source with the configuration for --with-curl, it does not give you php\_curl.dll, but the curl functions still work and exist?? I’m confused. What’s the difference? Why does one require the dll and the other doesn’t?