16.0. Introduction

Libraries add functionality to the Arduino environment. They extend the commands available to provide capabilities not available in the core Arduino language. Libraries provide a way to add features that can be accessed from any of your sketches once you have installed the library.

The Arduino software distribution includes built-in libraries that cover common tasks. These libraries are discussed in Recipe 16.1.

Libraries are also a good way for people to share code that may be useful to others. Many third-party libraries provide specialized capabilities; these can be downloaded from the Arduino Playground and other sites. Libraries are often written to simplify the use of a particular piece of hardware. Many of the devices covered in earlier chapters use libraries to make it easier to connect to the devices.