How does a Windows service differ from a standard exe?

windows-services service
LearningCSharp picture LearningCSharp · Jan 24, 2010 · Viewed 24.5k times · Source

What's the difference between a Windows service and a standard exe?

Answer

Eric J. picture Eric J. · Jan 24, 2010

A windows service always runs once the computer starts up (as long as it's so configured). A standard EXE only runs when a user is logged in, and will stop if the user logs out.

You would use a windows service for things that always need to run even if nobody is logged in.

You would use a standard EXE for programs that a user will run while logged in.

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