.ilk files as linker input
The linker creates and uses a .ilk database file for incremental link information.
Remarks
When linking incrementally, LINK updates the .ilk status file that it created during the first incremental link. This file has the same base name as the target EXE or DLL file, and it has the extension .ilk. During subsequent incremental links, LINK updates the .ilk file. If the .ilk file is missing, LINK performs a full link and creates a new .ilk file. If the .ilk file is unusable, LINK performs a non-incremental link. For more information about incremental linking, see the /INCREMENTAL (Link incrementally) linker option. For information about how to specify the name and location of the file, see /ILK (Name incremental database file).