Position independent code and Shared Object

Anyone please explain what Position independent code and Shared Object meant actually. Whether the object code created after compiling is Position independent.

It would be 开发者_JAVA百科helpful if somebody explain about how the access to local/external variables are handled in a position independent code.

Also looking for some real-life dynamic linking/loading examples/situations.

One good general explanation with lots of examples.

The link provided by Employed Russian is a good one. However, here's another article on this topic that you may find useful. It assumes less knowledge and perhaps can be easier to understand for a beginner.