PDB files exist as 5 different types. Please find information about each of them below.
Type 1: Program Database
A PDB file is a database file used for storing debugging information about a program or module like DLL or EXE files. PDB files commonly have a .pdb extension. PDB files are created from source files ...
A PDB file is a database file used for storing debugging information about a program or module like DLL or EXE files. PDB files commonly have a .pdb extension. PDB files are created from source files during compilation. Microsoft Visual Studio uses PDB files as its primary debugging information format.
When a program is debugged, the debugger loads debugging information from the PDB file. It uses it to relate execution state to source code. The debugger can locate symbols or know where to stop debugging using this mapping. PDB files also allow crash analysis services to link crashes to specific source code parts that cause them.
Different programs use PDB files in proprietary formats. An Intuit Quicken PDB file cannot be opened by Visual Studio. Visual Studio PDBs store symbol information too large for the program itself. The symbols map statements and components in source code to the compiled executable. The debugger uses this mapping to find source files and locations to stop debugging.
PDB is short for Program-Debug Data Base. PDB files contain vital debugging information like breakpoints. So Visual Studio fails to hit breakpoints if PDBs are removed from the debug folder. The debugger uses PDBs to show the exact line number and stacktrace where an exception occurred.
Microsoft Visual Studio
WinDbg
SAP PowerDesigner